TOPIC: 1st Grade ( Practice 22 )

 

Agree or disagee

 

Job promotions should be based on performance rather than seniority?

 

POINTS:

There is a growing awareness that job promotion should be based on performance rather than seniority. Despite this trend, some people still insist that promotion based on seniority should be better for the society. Personally, I believe that job promotion should be based on how well workers perform their jobs. Let me explain why.

 

First of all, with job promotion based on performance, workers would be motivated to do better jobs. Even new employees can quickly move up the ladder if they are capable and skillful. Also, more experienced employees will have to compete with them to keep their positions. In other words, the merit system can help corporations gain more profit.

 

Second, seniority-based promotion doesn't seem to fit the bill in today's aging society. Most of the workforce in Japan is made out of middle-aged workers, most of whom receive handsome salaries. Nevertheless, not all of these old employees are so productive that some money might be paid to unskillful workers in vain. Sadly, more skillful young workers often have to give up promotion and resign themselves to lower salaries.

 

Last, workers can be more flexible to change their jobs in seniority-based system. Instead of working for the same company for a long time, they change their jobs in accordance with their needs, and they can get new experience in a new working place. It it beneficial for both workers and companies, because workers learn new expertise and companies can find new talents.

 

In conclusion, although some people believe that job promotion should be based on seniority, I believe workers should be promoted in accordance with their performance. Considering today's aging society, seniority system does more harm than good.