Posted in: Exposing the Truth
Estimated Read Time: 4–5 minutes
They say if you work hard, stay loyal, and keep your head down, you’ll move up.
But if you’ve worked in manufacturing for any amount of time, you already know — that’s not how it works.
Promotions aren’t about performance.
They’re about proximity. Popularity. Politics.
And it’s time we start calling that out.
When You Realize It’s Not a Meritocracy
You can hit your numbers.
Cover other people’s shifts.
Train new hires.
Stay late. Come in early.
And still watch someone else — less experienced, less reliable — get the promotion.
Why?
Because they:
Know the right people.
Laugh at the supervisor’s jokes.
Take smoke breaks at just the right time.
Know how to play the game.
Performance isn’t the currency of promotion.
Connection is.
The Damage Favoritism Does
This isn’t just about hurt feelings — it’s about the health of the workplace.
Favoritism:
Kills morale. Good workers stop trying when effort doesn’t matter.
Creates division. Teams turn on each other to stay in good standing.
Breeds fear. Speaking up risks falling out of favor — or worse, becoming a target.
It sends the message:
“It doesn’t matter how well you do your job — it matters who’s watching.”
And once people realize that, things fall apart.
The “Backroom Promotion”
Most workers never even know a role opened up until it’s filled.
There’s no posting. No interview. No transparency. Just an announcement:
“Please welcome your new team lead.”
And that person?
Wasn’t the most qualified.
Didn’t have the best attendance.
Didn’t even want leadership — until someone whispered it was “already theirs.”
These decisions aren’t just unethical — they’re demoralizing. They reinforce the message that performance is for suckers.
What We Deserve Instead
We’re not asking for special treatment. We’re asking for:
Clear paths to promotion.
Open applications for leadership roles.
Objective criteria based on work — not personality.
Real feedback when someone is passed over.
Because when promotions are fair, everyone wins.
Workers feel valued.
Teams are stronger.
And leaders actually know what they’re doing — because they earned it.
Have You Been Passed Over for a Promotion You Earned?
If you’ve experienced this — or watched someone else get promoted for all the wrong reasons — you’re not alone.
Tell your story anonymously and help expose how the system really works behind the scenes.
Let’s stop pretending this is about performance — and start telling the truth.