History Main / NonPromotion

* On ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', Professor Farnsworth makes Fry Executive Delivery Boy, then admits to the others that it's a meaningless title given to make Fry feel better. [[SelfDeprecation At that point the show's Executive Producers titles appear on screen.]]

* This is one possible sign of an impending layoff or closure, usually after someone fairly important to the company resigns (because s/he knows what's coming), and they need to find someone to fill that role, but can't afford to hire new people.

Think of it as the opposite of being KickedUpstairs, you stay right where you are but do more work! Oh and I need you to file these examples too.

* ''Western/Animation/SpongebobSquarepants'' did this in the episode "Squid's Day Off". After Mr. Krabs is sent to the hospital, he puts Squidward in charge. Since it was a slow day and there are no customers at all, Squidward takes the opportunity to skip work by ''promoting'' [=SpongeBob=] to run the cash register AND make the Krabby Patties at the same time, so he could leave the restaurant for some ''errands''. Ulitmately subverted because [[spoiler: the Krusty Krab's sign reads Closed]] and Squidward's anxiety of [=SpongeBob=] possibly messing up on his own ruined the whole point of the ruse.

* In Chengar Qordath's ''[[FanFic/TheLifeAndTimesOfAWinningPony Winningverse]]'', this happens to Shining Armor in the aftermath of [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E25ACanterlotWeddingPart1 the changeling]] [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E26ACanterlotWeddingPart2 wedding invasion]]. He is removed from being Captain of the Guard (his dream job)through no real fault of his own, and when the realization really sets in on the day he finally moves all of his stuff out of his office, [[FromBadToWorse it only kicks off the slew of bad news he gets that day.]]

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'' most Troubleshooter missions require the group to choose a team leader (or have one chosen for them). The members had to follow the leader's orders, and the leader was responsible for successful completion of the mission. As most missions are impossible and half the team is likely to try and sabotage it anyway, it really is a bad, ''BAD'' job. The team leader badge is a ''bulls-eye''.

** In ''The Traitor's Hand'', he suggests that [[LeeroyJenkins Jenit Sulla]] be breveted to captain until they see if she's worthy (better than a full promotion, as if she'd screwed up the demotion would have showed up on her record). It certainly seems to have worked, she ends up becoming the first Lady General, the highest rank in the Imperial Guard.

* In ''TheMaryTylerMooreShow'', when Mary is first hired, Lou offers her a choice of Assistant Director or Secretary. She, of course, chooses Assistant Director. When she meets and talks to Murray, she finds out that the Secretary job pays more.
* ''{{Frontline}}'': When Mike demands more responsibility on the program, the executive producer grants him the meaningless title of 'International Story Coordinator': a position that involves faxing a list of the day's stories to their sister network in the UK so they can pick up any stories they want to run. Mike still manages to screw this up.

* From ''HarveyBirdmanAttorneyAtLaw'':

* Sgt. Gormley in ''Series/BlueBloods''. Originally the supervisor of the 54th Precinct detectives, he impresses Frank with his candor and concern for the rank-and-file cops. Frank then informs Gormley that he's making him Dino Arbogast's replacement as Frank's liaison to the regular cops. However, since the regulations require that the Chief of Department to be at least a captain, Frank instead creates the position of the Special Assistant to the Commissioner, which has the same duties and authority but not the rank and privileges that go with it. He does, later, receive a promotion to Lieutenant, but this is mostly still in effect, particularly when Gormley has to interface with senior police officers who outrank him.

* One thing unique to the [[UsefulNotes/NewYorkCityCops NYPD]] is a job position known as a "Detective-Specialist", and it was created because of this trope. In the 1980s, many NYPD detectives resented that some police officers, such as those assigned to security details for the mayor, the police commissioner and other senior city officials, were being granted the rank of Detective in order to give them increased pay and status, but were not being assigned to investigative duties. The NYPD pacified the situation by creating the rank of "Detective-Specialist". This title is now given to police officers who have been placed in specialized units because they possess a unique or esoteric skill the department needs, e.g., crime-scene technician, sharpshooter, bomb technician, scuba instructor, helicopter instructor, sketch artist, etc. Like investigation Detectives, detective-specialists start at third level pay grade and can be promoted to second- or first-grade status.

* There is a ''WaysideSchool'' story in which one kid is picked as Class President. Much jubilation on the part of said student until he learns that the exalted post of Class President entails turning off the lights at the end of class.

* This happened to the main character in the ''{{Sten}}'' novels by ChrisBunch. He's given cadet rank (eventually up to becoming a company commander), but among other things, he's responsible for discipline across the entire company, and isn't very good at it. Eventually he's given command during an exercise against an overwhelming enemy, fails spectacularly, and is kicked out of training because of it.

* ''TheOffice''.
** In the British version, Tim perfectly describes "Team Leader" as "a title someone's given you to get you to do something they don't want to do, for free."
** The American version has Dwight getting promoted by Michael from Assistant to the Regional Manager to Assistant Regional Manager. It's an unofficial promotion without any perks. Also, when Dwight thinks he will become the manager, he holds interviews for his "Number Two Man". He then appoints Andy as the Number Two "for political reasons" and Pam as his secret actual Number Two before he finds out that [[StatusQuoIsGod no one is getting promoted]].
* [[HappyDays Richie Cunningham]] was made group leader (or whatever the precise title was) of his ROTC unit in high school, which Ralph and Potsie took as permission to goof off.
* ''[[ThirdRockFromTheSun 3rd Rock From the Sun]]'', "Dick Strikes Out":

* On ''{{Newsradio}}'' Dave promoted Matthew to the position of coordinating producer. He takes his job very seriously but of course nobody takes him seriously. Dave admits it's a useless title with no real power and Matthew asks if Dave is going to make him Queen of England.

Great news, Page! I'm giving you a Promotion! Your new title is Trope Page, as opposed to your old role of Blank Page. Now the pay's the same and there are no perks, but you will be expected to keep [[NonPromotionDiscussion discussions]], indexes, and a good example list. It's a new responsibility. Keep at it and you may get moved up later, but for now you need to put in the extra time, this is great opportunity for you!

* In ''[[{{Spelljammer}} The Cloakmaster Cycle]]'' Teldin at one point "promoted" trooper Gomja to sergeant, even though Teldin himself wasn't currently on any service, has no official status other than "farmer" and was but a ''mule skinner'' in the army before retirement. Unusual in that this helped. The "promotion" forced a young and completely dependent on the orders [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Giff]] to think for himself, and even [[LetsGetDangerous unlocked his tactical thinking to the dangerous level]]: for Giff being a SpaceMarine is the only understandable way of life and the only subject of their education. It's unclear whether Teldin did it on purpose or just to make him feel better, but HilarityEnsues.

* Sgt. Gormley in ''Series/BlueBloods''. Originally the supervisor of the 54th Precinct detectives, he impresses Frank with his candor and concern for the rank-and-file cops. Frank then informs Gormley that he's making him Dino Arbogast's replacement as Frank's liaison to the regular cops. However, since the regulations require that the Chief of Department to be at least a captain, Frank instead creates the position of the Special Assistant to the Commissioner, which has the same duties and authority but not the rank and privileges that go with it.

** This is Played With frequently in ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'', including everythin from long, overblown titles like "Supreme Commander of Cubicle [=S700R=]!" to "Not only will you ''not'' get raises, you'll also ''not'' get promotions! Oh, and you'll all be named Beverly."

*** What's worse, in the off chance that someone happens to be demoted while frocked, the demotion is based on their actual, not frocked, rank. So in effect, a demotion of one paygrade results in a two-step loss.

* When Creator/WilWheaton voiced his disatisfaction with his role on ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', the producers tried to talk him into staying by offering a promotion for ''his character''.

Great news, Page! I'm giving you a Promotion! Your new title is Trope Page, as opposed to your old role of Blank Page. Now the pay's the same and there are no perks, but you will be expected to keep [[NonPromotionDiscussion discussions]], indexes, and a good example list. it's a new responsibility. Keep at it and you may get moved up later, but for now you need to put in the extra time, this is great opportunity for you!

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'' most Troubleshooter missions require the group to choose a team leader (or have one chosen for them). The members had to follow the leader's orders, and the leader was responsible for successful completion of the mission. As most missions are impossible and half the team is likely to try and sabotage it anyway, it really is a bad, ''BAD'' job.

* CiaphasCain ('''HERO OF THE IMPERIUM!''') introduces his aide as "Gunner First Class Ferik Jurgen", despite there being only one class of gunner (but given how high on the chain of command the people he introduces them to are, they don't know that).