Been working for my company for 10 years, was promoted a few years back. I work hard, keep my head down but am pleasant to work with, helpful and have a bit of banter with everyone as well. I enjoy my job and all has been going well.
Found out recently that a new-ish colleague I work closely with has been promoted. Colleague is a bit of a slacker who spends a lot of time online and messing about. We had some issues with her in the beginning which were addressed but nothing much came of it. There was a chance she could have been let go at one point but it seemed to be a case of better the devil you know for management, I thought. So she stayed. And she does get some work done so she's not doing nothing as such but still. Not going out of her way to get stuff done. Often I'm having to remind her that X needs doing or Have you done this yet? asked several times until it's finally completed. Delegate work to her and it doesn't get done so I end up doing it myself to move things along (wrong I know but that's my sense of duty). However she has done a bit of work for another colleague (but nothing out of the ordinary and I did similar years ago and didn't get promoted for it!) and I think this is the reason for the promotion. She would make a big deal about how long it took her to get this stuff done, martyr-style. She is also a bit fawning over management and tries to be funny with them and big herself up.
I'm really annoyed that this person is being promoted for doing nothing much at all and while also being quite unmotivated and easily distracted sneakily online shopping when she's meant to be working while it took me YEARS to get my promotion and I had to actually apply for the job in question, while she is being handed it on a plate. She is also going up a grade to the same one as me, when I do a more time intensive and demanding role.
I get the impression this kind of thing happens a lot but to see this individual go from on the verge of being dismissed to being promoted for no discernible reason makes my blood boil! I have also been involved with a major project recently and there has been no mention of reward for this despite the late nights and pressure I've been under. I feel like I might as well just coast along doing the minimum, because that works so well for others.