Seniority-based promotions
Seniority refers to the associated length of service in the similar organisation. Promoting a worker who has the longest length of service is frequently broadly welcomed by unions because it is quite objective. It is simple to measure the length of service & judge the seniority. There is no scope for discrimination, favouritism and subjective judgement. Everybody is sure of getting the similar, one day.
Despite of these merits, this system also suffers from certain restriction. They are following:
- The supposition that the workers learn more with length of service is not applicable as worker may learn up to a certain stage, and learning capabilities can diminish beyond a definite age.
- It demotivate the young and more competent workers and results in greater workers turnover.
- It kills the keenness and interest to development, as everyone will be promoted without showing any all-round development or promise.
- Judging the seniority, though it seem to be simple in a theoretical sense, is highly complex in practice such the problems like company seniority, job seniority, zonal/regional seniority, experience as apprentice trainee, researcher, trainee ,service in different organisations ,length of service not only by days but by hours and minutes will crop up.