The Hidden Cost of “Dry Promotions”:
Why It’s a Trap for Your Team and You
Picture this: You’ve got a rockstar employee who’s been consistently knocking it out of the park. They’ve taken on extra responsibilities, started mentoring others, and you know deep down they deserve a promotion. But for whatever reason—budget constraints, upper management red tape, or just waiting for the “right time”—you can’t give them the title or pay bump.
So, you hand them what’s often called a “dry promotion”. More responsibility and work, but without the formal recognition or, crucially, the compensation that comes with it. And while this might seem like a short-term solution to keep projects moving, it's actually a long-term problem waiting to explode.
Let’s dig into why.