On following some links on the Del-icio-us Yahoo deal I cam across this post on building new companies. It makes interesting reading, and is related to a number of discussions I've had with different people recently about the old adage of job for life. Now days jobs aren't for life, people move on and companies move on/close down. In addition in the US I get the impression that job security is more in the ability to move jobs than ensure that you will work in a job for life, thus the reason for shorter notice periods in the US compared to Europe.