Seniority

For the order of repayment in the event of bankruptcy, see Seniority (financial).

Seniority is the concept of a person or group of people being in charge or in command of another person or group. This control is often granted to the senior persons due to experience or length of service in a given position, but it is common for senior persons to have less experience or length of service than their subordinates; the knowledge or skill that one obtains after a certain amount of experience.

In armed forces

In some military command structures, the length of time someone has held a particular rank decides whether that person is senior to another person of the same rank. For instance, a captain who was promoted five years ago can give orders to a captain who was promoted three years ago.

In politics

Seniority in United States politics, when used out of context, is informally defined as the number of years one member of a group has been a part of the group. For example, Ralph Hall, from Texas is the most senior member of the House of Representatives, at age 88. However, "seniority" can also refer to political power attained by position within the United States Government. For further details, see:

• United States Order of Precedence
• United States Presidential Line of Succession
• Seniority in the United States Senate
• Dean of the United States House of Representatives

Seniority in United States politics is viewed publicly sometimes both positively and negatively. While most positions within the US system of government are elected, many officials are viewed as retaining their position only because they have been there for many years, which can reflect voter stagnancy. On the other hand, holding a position for many years can also be seen as a sign of respect ofthe person's ability to do the job at a level that keeps pleasing voters.

In unionised companies

In unionised companies, employees may enjoy more work privileges. Here are examples:

• Shift work at more favourable times
• Work that is deemed easier or more pleasurable
• Working hours at a more convenient time (convenience being relative to the employee)
• Assignment to work, when a work reduction, or a reduction in available work hours results in lay offs

Seniority also has an influence over bumping rights, which is a re-assignment of jobs, possibly for many people at a time.

Some traditionalist employers, common in smaller, single-operated business, take a "first in, last out" (FILO) perspective, meaning those that have been there longest, or tenure employees have the right to stay, whereas others take a "first in, first out" (FIFO) viewpoint, which tends to emphasize a new or "fresh start" for the company.

In commercial aviation

In commercial aviation, pilots working for a carrier have their privileges determined by their seniority or generally known as the "pilot seniority list." These privileges can be income level, routes flown, types of aircraft, work schedules and positions.

In aviation, seniority is most important when deciding which pilots to upgrade to a larger, more complex aircraft type; or for uprgrading a First Officer to the rank of a Captain.

Engine drivers

Engine drivers with many railways have also a seniority list, but it is focused on work scheduling. Younger engine drivers spend a lot of their time being the back-up personnel that has to help out on a very short notice – for example when a colleague calls in sick or has a delay.

In human relationships

Seniority is present in the most common relationships, between parents and children, siblings of different ages, and workers and their managers.

See also

• Authority
• Gerontocracy
• Hierarchy
• Seniority in the United States Senate
• Lockstep compensation