In a concerning revelation, a survey conducted by the employment website Monster has uncovered that one in four UK employees have never been promoted, and one in 10 have failed to advance up the career ladder in the past 10 years. This stagnation in career progression raises questions about the opportunities available to workers in the current economic climate.
The Resolution Foundation’s report sheds light on a potential contributing factor – the increasing time spent in a single job. The typical duration of employment has risen from 51 months in 2002 to 65 months in 2014, suggesting that employees are staying put in their roles for longer periods. This trend may be limiting the prospects for younger workers seeking advancement.
However, the reasons behind this lack of upward mobility are multifaceted. While employers are not obligated to advertise internal vacancies or promotional opportunities, they must ensure that any decisions regarding training, development, or advancement are not based on an employee’s “protected characteristics” as defined by the Equality Act 2010. These include age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
Employers must also make reasonable adjustments to accommodate the needs of disabled employees who may be eligible for promotion. Assumptions about an individual’s abilities or willingness to take on a more demanding role based on their protected characteristics would likely constitute unlawful discrimination.
Employees who believe they have been unfairly passed over for a promotion or development opportunity have the right to raise the issue with their manager or HR department, and, if necessary, pursue a claim through the employment tribunal process. However, they must act quickly, as there is a strict three-month minus one day deadline to initiate this process.
The stagnation in career progression highlighted by this survey is a concerning trend that raises questions about the fairness and accessibility of the job market for UK workers. Employers must ensure that their promotion and development practices are free from unlawful discrimination, providing equal opportunities for all employees to advance their careers.