Woman’s Theory About Why You’re Not Getting Promoted Goes Viral

Ever wondered why your hopes of getting a promotion or pay rise haven’t become a reality, despite working tirelessly and challenging yourself? One woman thinks she has the answer.

Jacqueline Morris, 28, shared a video to her TikTok account @jacquelameo explaining that she thinks people in junior roles, where “a lot of the hard work exists,” are less likely to be promoted if they are both good at their job and a pleasure to work with. In comparison, she believes people in more senior positions can be either of those things but aren’t required to be both.

Morris, from South Portland, Maine, told Newsweek that being a conscientious hard-worker can be “a double-edged sword” because it makes you an invaluable asset who is difficult to replace.

“Your employer is not incentivized to reward your consistent exemplary performance. Even if you advocate for yourself and demonstrate readiness for a leadership role, they may still overlook you. Instead, they may promote someone else, even if they are less qualified, because they can’t afford to replace you,” Morris said.

“Suppose you’ve been with a company for four years, consistently outperforming peers, yet there’s no talk of promotions or raises on the horizon. This is the calculus going through your employer’s mind: they have to replace you, and then training the new hire to match your level will take time and lead to a temporary decrease in productivity.”

Rather than losing vital workers from junior positions, Morris insisted that companies will likely “take the easy route” by keeping them where they are and looking elsewhere for people to fill the management roles.

She added that it isn’t necessarily a reflection on the individual, but rather, “it’s about their bottom line.”

Morris shared her theory after having a conversation with a close friend. Although her friend is great at her job, she isn’t progressing, and Morris feels it’s all down to her being an integral team member who doesn’t give any pushback.

Since she shared her thoughts on TikTok on April 10, the video has generated plenty of attention, with more than 7.9 million views and over 898,100 likes already.

Not Everyone Is in Agreement

Is she right? Newsweek spoke to Emily Walton, a former corporate leader who is now a careers coach, and she doesn’t agree. She suggested that hard workers are the perfect fit for a promotion in any field of work, and people shouldn’t be disheartened if it hasn’t happened yet.

“The goal of businesses is to make money, which often means making progress. So, promoting top talent who have the skills to align diverse interests can be a very strategic move,” Walton said.

“If you have more senior leaders who are either good at their job or a pleasure to work with, I would argue they need to develop the skills where lacking. Solely being good at your job can negatively impact the culture. On the flip side, only being a pleasure to work with does not qualify you to hold a senior position.”

How Can You Overcome This Problem?

Morris believes her theory applies to men and women of all ages and in all industries, while disproportionately affecting women and people in the nonbinary community. But before going into burnout from trying to progress, she recommends speaking to someone trustworthy in the workplace for feedback.

She also suggests “asking for a clear roadmap” to help stay on track and work towards that all-important promotion. This can include expectations and regular checkpoints along the way.

Morris said: “I think people need to be honest with themselves. What exactly do you want when you’re looking for a promotion—money, power, freedom? Assess your workplace and think about how you can realistically get what you want, without sacrificing your values.”

There are times when it can feel easy to reflect on the negatives, but Morris hopes that people will also remember the aspects of their work that they enjoy before making drastic decisions such as quitting.

How Did Social Media React?

Morris’ corporate theory led to over 13,600 comments on her viral TikTok post. One social media user wrote: “It’s called Performance Punishment.”

Another person responded: “This isn’t a conspiracy theory…this is fact. Make yourself indispensable and you will be indispensable in the same position forever.”

But another TikTok user said: “I’m excellent at my job AND a pleasure to work with. I’ve been promoted twice in one year.”

Despite receiving a variety of responses, Morris said it has been empowering to hear from many people about their own experiences that align with her theory.

“There are millions of people feeling the same frustrations, seeking guidance and validation. A broken system doesn’t fail one person alone, it fails everyone. We have to talk about these things out in the open if anything is going to change,” Morris told Newsweek.

Have you had a workplace dilemma? Let us know via [email protected]. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.