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年功人事
ねんこうじんじ
What does "年功人事" mean in English?
seniority-based personnel system日本の多くの企業では、年功人事制度が採用されている。
Many companies in Japan adopt a seniority-based personnel system.
How to use "年功人事" correctly: definitions and examples in English?
Business
formal
A personnel management system where promotions, raises, and job assignments are primarily based on an employee's length of service (seniority) rather than performance or merit.
年功人事のもとでは、若手社員は長期間低いポジションに留まることが多い。
Under a seniority-based system, young employees often remain in low positions for long periods.
Common in traditional Japanese corporate culture, though modern companies are increasingly shifting toward performance-based evaluations.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Cultural Context
This system emphasizes loyalty and long-term commitment to a single company, contrasting with Western models where job-hopping for advancement is more common. It creates predictable career paths but can limit innovation and younger talent.
Gold Rule
Key Distinction
年功人事 prioritizes tenure over performance. Do not confuse with 成果主義 (merit-based system), which evaluates results rather than years of service.
Word Origin
Combines 年功 (ねんこう, 'years of service') and 人事 (じんじ, 'personnel management'). The term reflects a system where experience (measured by tenure) directly correlates with career advancement.
Usage Notes
While historically dominant in Japanese corporate culture, this system is gradually being replaced by merit-based evaluations in many organizations due to globalization and calls for diversity in the workplace.
Word Breakdown
年功
years of service/experience
noun人事
personnel management
noun和英辞典