I would dearly love to know what is conservative about such behavior.
Not much. Indeed, I noticed a change in the manager-types starting about then.
I'm from an earlier generation -- graduated college in 1961, formed my own advertising agency in 1972 and served some major national clients until I retired from the business in 1983. As such, I had an opportunity to meet with and observe high level management at a broad selection of mid-size and larger companies.
Early in the eighties, a new generation of manager started showing up in the board rooms. This was the late sixties/early seventies set -- schooled on politics, protest and advanced courses in relativism and situational ethics.
Immediately upon their arrival, loyalty vanished from the list of business virtues. Acquiring each position was an opportunity to start trying for another, better-paying job. They weren't loyal to their employer, nor their employees.
Of course, the next generation (today's) is even less rooted in ethics. And, thus, even more selfish and short-term.
This is the breed of managers who run many (though probably not most) of today's large corporations.
Within this group, ethics are old-fashioned, for "other people". Not just business ethics, but personal ethics, as well.
And they are as arrogant and ignorant as their politicians.
Another significant issue is the growth of the legal industry and its impact on business. When I started in business, it was still possible to seal a deal on a handshake. Both parties staked their word and honor on living up to the agreement.
Today almost every agreement is written and reviewed by teams of lawyers. Even when agreement is reached and the papers are signed, one or the other party will often use its legal staff to reinterpret the meaning of the language in the document or wiggle out of conditions it finds no longer to its liking.
The legal profession is the antithesis of ethics. It enables dishonorable conduct and the breakdown of trust in commerce and in society.