An observation about where I work.*

Where I work, we are all on various pay grades. Many of those at the lower grades seem to have arrived there by chance, because they needed a job (perhaps after graduation) and took the best or only opportunity immediately available, regardless of whether it as what they wanted to do.

When I first started there was opportunity for sideways and upward progression, so the original starting point was not an issue of particular concern. It would be possible to move around not only on the same grade, but also to progress upwards from a different area. Wider experience was seen as an advantage.

However, these days seem now to be lost. Direct experience is now more important than wider knowledge. As a result, there is little to no opportunity to progress upwards from a different area. Given the lack of higher grade jobs, this means that to progress you need to move to a different organisation. As many people have other ties in this city as they would if working elsewhere, moving may not be an option. And so there are many more experienced staff at a lower salary grade than would be expected – or indeed would be justified, as they absorb additional responsibilities and workload. This situation also means that careers are in many cases chosen by that chance first placement, not the area where an individual actually wants to work.

Fortunately, my own job is a halcyon existence where the desk is a meadow of contentment, happiness and fulfilment.

Just an observation. And it is easy to see the reasons from the other side.

*Its a secret. Albeit one that you could find out in about 2 clicks.