Job security—such as it was—was never the same as job advancement.
One ladies maid who had faithfully been employed for more than five years submitted her resignation, only to be told by her employer that it was not convenient for her to leave. She was alerted that —were she to do so—she would forego a reference.
(Which was blackmail. )
But did she have any choice? In the eyes of her Mistress (who, frankly, held all the cards) goodness, she believed, was its own reward.
Holding on to her position was considered its own expression of loyalty, an affirmation of sorts. You were supposed to feel lucky—not wealthy, not greedy, and not even remotely ambitious—and you did that by having no wants of your own.
Goodness meant toeing the line. It was proof of endurance, a way to survive, if not exactly thrive, in service.