Recent research shows you and your company have a once-in-decade chance to build the type of worker loyalty that employers dream of.

The research was conducted by Kelly Services, Inc, between October 2009 and January 2010 — in the teeth of the recession. It essentially asked 134,000 people to describe their level of loyalty to their employers, and how that level had changed with the dire economy. Here’s how the employees responded:

• 27% said their level of loyalty to their employers had gone up as a result of how the employers treate. workers during the tough times — and not necessarily because of increases in pay and benefits.
• 10% said employer reaction and treatment of employees during tough times had lessened loyalty to the company.
• 63% said their level of loyalty stayed the same.

The apparent lesson: Employee. sympathize that times are difficult and employers have to make tough choices. Employees don’t sympathize when they perceive that companies are taking advantage of the times to mistreat workers who, because of the job market, are afraid to look elsewhere.

The bottom line: The job market will get better. And when it does, companies that handled employee relations with integrity will have the edge.