If you believe in fairness, why not promote based on seniority? Do you think any other system is more fair?

Question

Please don't say "hard work" or "ability". Ability determined by whom? One of my old employers used to promote people more "qualified" because they had a special training or certification. After enough digging I discovered people could only get that special training and certification if their employer sponsored them to get it. In short; the "qualified" were made by the higher ups but the rest of us were told they got it from merit. Obviously unfair.
So why not promote based on seniority?

Answer 1

Promotions are based on accomplishment and the potential for increasing the bottom line of a company or organization.



Basing promotions on seniority does not really benefit a company unless for some reason the older every employee gets, the more capable they become and the more they add to the growth of the company at every higher level they are promoted to.



But that's not a realistic projection, is it?

Answer 2

Merit is the fairest way to promote. If an employer has, and uses, a good performance evaluation system, there should be no question as to who "deserves" promotion. If an individual does a better job than another, and both are equally qualified, the one who performs best deserves the advancement.

Would you want your heart transplant done by a surgeon based on seniority or ability/past performance?

Answer 3

I was in the UAW & the union always funded those running for positions against my job - I was in the defense industry.

If one bases promotion on seniority, those at the top get Lazy. I remember when I had already colored in certain blocks I became Lazy. For a long term/Promotion one has to always be hungry & looking how you can make you boss look good without brown nosing. This is a tight rope balancing act.



One has to start financing their own future before management starts to help. How hungry are you? Remember If you are a true American you are entitle to NOTHING. Good Luck.



Yes I thought the same thing when I was younger, then reality hit me in the face. No one gives a S. They are all running also to get a head & attempting to do just what is required.

Answer 4

Seniority should be considered of course, but in the case of private enterprise it is the prerogative of the employer to promote whomever they choose. They are not in the business of providing jobs, they are in the business of making money. They generally seek to maximize those profits by promoting the employees that best help them do that. Fairness has nothing to do with it.



If you are seeking a promotion show your employer how you can help them make more money (and do so more effectively than their other choices).

Answer 5

Don't ask a question then limit what the answers can be.



Just because someone "exists" longer than someone else doesn't mean that they know what they are doing! General Eisenhower, until he got his FIFTH Star was actually a COLONEL! His General ranks were TEMPORARY! Generals with much more time in the military than himself couldn't do the job that he was doing.



In the Civil War, Custer made it to Brigadier General in temporary rank while he I believe was still a captain. He ended the war with the real rank of Lt Colonel.

Answer 6

If there is ONE position open, and two OTHERWISE EQUAL employees bid on it, then it should go to the more senior.



Seniority should be used as a TIE BREAKER ONLY.



But you doing just barely good enough to keep from getting fired all your years should not block my ambition of becoming your supervisor so I can Replace you with someone more productive.

Answer 7

Promote based on merit.



If you suck at a job but not enough to get fired, you don't get promoted.



If you're good at a job, you get promoted.



Boom. Easy.

Answer 8

I'd like to see promotions based on who is best suited for the job. But promotions shouldn't be tied to pay raises. All hard-working employees should receive the same pay.

Answer 9

Seniority? WEll then let me just go sit at my desk, wait until I get old, and then I ll get promoted..



Sounds silly to me.



Seniority should just get you the bigger bedroom in the house.

Answer 10

Wow how many straight days do you plan on whining here (even though you claim you never whine) about not being good enough to get a promotion?

Answer 11

I only promote based on a good job and leadership.

Answer 12

So this is why you have been posting your anti-business rants since yesterday, you never got promoted past toilet cleaner at McDonald's?

Answer 13

Why................MOST, who have seniority, do NOT have the qualifications to be promoted.

Answer 14

Ever hear of MERIT.