On the 25th, it was revealed that 8 out of 10 MZ employees at Seoul Metro, which operates subway lines 1 to 8, feel that the 'special promotion' system is unfair. The special promotion is a system that allows employees to be promoted to executive positions through recommendations without exams, and it has been implemented since last year.
The Upright Labor Union, which is the MZ employee union of Seoul Metro, conducted a 'survey on perception of fairness in the promotion system and special rewards' among 521 union members from Sept. 30 to Oct. 3. As a result, 82.1% (428 members) responded that special promotion is unfair.
Union members cited reasons for the unfairness of special promotion as ▲the selection process and criteria are not fair (65.2%, multiple responses allowed) ▲benefits are concentrated on a specific minority (62.4%) ▲field employees (not at headquarters) feel it is difficult to qualify (45.3%) ▲the number of promotion review slots decreases by the number of special promotees (14%).
There are two main methods for Seoul Metro employees to get promoted. They can either complete a certain number of years of service or earn points based on performance. For example, to be promoted from grade 7 to grade 6, they must work for five years or accumulate 265 points. The same applies for promotions from grade 6 to grade 5 (6 years, 318 points) and from grade 5 to grade 4 (7 years, 371 points). Points are awarded twice a year to employees with good work evaluations or those obtaining professional certifications. From an employee's standpoint, accumulating points for promotion is faster than fulfilling the years of service.
The existing promotion methods can be used up to grade 4. To advance from grade 4 to grade 3 (executive), employees must receive good work evaluations for two consecutive years and pass an exam and interview.
However, it is said that special promotees do not go through these procedures. According to Seoul Metro and the Upright Labor Union, out of 1,874 people promoted last year, 10 (8 from headquarters and 2 from the field) were promoted specially. Among them, two employees were promoted from grade 4 to executive grade 3.
In protest, the Upright Labor Union sent a condolence wreath reading "A fair HR system has perished" to the front of the Seoul Metro headquarters in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on the 19th. They argued that instead of special promotions, they should actively utilize existing special pay grade increases and reward points for promotions. A special pay grade increase raises the pay grade without changing the rank. Alternatively, they suggest offering points so that the same procedures are followed for promotions from grade 4 to grade 3.
Seoul Metro is reportedly planning to specially promote 10 employees this year as well. Song Si-young, Chairperson of the Upright Labor Union, said, "There are about 1,000 employees who failed to be promoted despite accumulating points this year. If the precedent of promotion without exams becomes established, it could lower employees' work motivation."