A trend is emerging in China where young professionals are declining promotion offers, challenging established notions of a career. Unlike the situation in India, where youth strive significantly for advancement, Chinese employees demonstrate a different approach, believing that success at work is not solely about reaching high positions.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), employees working on Chinese social media politely refuse promotions. They first thank the employer for the opportunity but explain they are not yet ready for new responsibilities. Some also point out a mismatch between the offered salary and the level of the position. Others feel that the additional duties, responsibility, and stress of higher posts do not justify the recognition of their contribution and work.
An example of this trend is an employee named Jun, who has declined three promotions in her ten-year career. Her first offer to become a junior manager at an internet company was rejected in favor of focusing on travel. Later, when she was offered leadership of a training center at an educational company, she returned to her previous role after only two weeks due to excessive work pressure. In April, Jun again declined a promotion because she found the salary was significantly lower than expected for the new duties.
At another internet company, for the product manager Cheng, achieving a senior position became more of an added burden than an award. After being promoted, he had to handle numerous tasks independently. Among young employees in China, the desire for promotion is decreasing; many reject advancement even after receiving a higher title. This is viewed not as a lack of ambition, but as a new trend aimed at avoiding increasing pressure and insufficient rewards in middle management.
At the middle management level, employees are forced to be caught between senior executives and junior staff. One user on social media shared their experience, stating that when appointed Team Leader, their salary was increased by only 100 yuan (about $15) per month, but any mistake resulted in them bearing all the blame. Companies present this pressure as an opportunity to develop independent working skills, but the youth no longer accepts this argument. Employee Cheng stated that if one looks around and does not see the person they want to become within the company, then that place is no longer suitable for their development.
Such phenomena are not unique to China. Disillusionment among young workers with corporate management is also observed in Western countries. According to a report by the British recruitment firm Robert Walters, over half of Generation Z members do not wish to become managers; furthermore, 72 percent prefer to focus on personal growth rather than leading others. Experts have termed this new trend 'Consciously Unbossing.'