up or out
Promote or terminate
Up or out describes employment policies requiring advancement within a set timeframe or departure from the organization.
Common in law firms, consulting, military, and academia: The firm operates on an up-or-out basis—make partner in seven years or leave.
Associates who don't advance are expected to find positions elsewhere rather than remain in junior roles indefinitely.
- careerLifelong occupational pursuit
- partner trackPath to firm ownership
- dead end jobPosition offering no advancement
- golden handcuffsFinancial incentives preventing departure
- promotionRank increase or publicity
climbing the ladder · fast track · succession · pushout · pink slip · progression · ascent · ambition · probation · law firm · retention · turnover · consulting · advancement · meritocracy · glass ceiling · rat race · sink or swim
- consultingconsultant, strategy, consultants, consulting, advisory
- military ranksgeneral, captain, major, sergeant, private
up or outlifetime employment
Job security until retirement
job for life · job security · tenure · permanent employment · seniority system
out, outs, upping, outed, outing, upper, outer, upward, outward