I have to admit I do feel bad at times.

It's a business decision. There has only been one job where I missed more than one coworker. I might end up wishing I had remained in the previous position if I jumped into a real fire, but that's it.

I've left several jobs that I liked because a new opportunity gave more upward mobility. Of course I miss good coworkers and even some jobs, but that's part of growth. Getting comfortable and staying put because of that comfort is stagnation. Nearly always, the way to grow your career is to move to new roles that are outside of your comfort zone.

It's difficult to leave a job, sure. Though I've never left a job and seen other people particularly care afterwards. If they're not offering anything in terms of advancement, salary, or opportunity to you, and you have to go elsewhere to find that for yourself, it feels a little bad. But you know what? It's better to make the change and try to feel better, instead of waiting 5 or 10 years and down the line realizing it was for nothing.

Would your company feel bad about laying you off?

I feel bad about leaving my last job in all honesty.

No, I don't. I choose to leave for a reason.

I'm not so much concerned about the company as I am about my coworkers. Sure they'll be fine. But I work on a small team so losing any member is a big impact. But the job gets more insufferable by the day, so it's hard to justify staying. But you do feel you're betraying a sense of comradery when you leave.

No. It's a business decision. I work on my terms. I leave on my terms.

Nope.

I did.

I have never felt bad about leaving a job every one has to move on at a certain point. It is called progress and if you don't move on then you are not progressing and we as human being need to progress in our lives and it is just the way it is. I will say this I did miss some co workers when I left but went back to visit and some of those same co workers had also either retired or moved on to other jobs themselves.

I've felt bad about leaving amazing co-workers, but they were happy to see me go and get out of that place. I have kept in touch with those I was close to. Leaving the actual company, no, I don't feel bad. I'm just an employee number and someone they have to pay. I was never even really replaced. They just hired a new very part-time employee who gets no benefits, isn't there enough to learn, etc.

I would feel bad to leave a job or an employer I liked. When it is a business decision to resign for a better opportunity elsewhere or a layoff triggered by workforce reduction, there is not time to feel bad when moving on.

Yes throwing former employees under the bu has always been a very bad red flag. I worked for 2 companies in the past where name dropping long gone employees was common place. Both were terrible places to work, and I got out of both of those environments as soon as I could.