How does Bio-Rad Laboratories make decisions around promotions?

For lower level jobs, talent, skills, hard work pays off. Once above the supervisor roles, and the mid-level roles. for example, to go from a level 2 to a level 3 (level 3 is max), achievement is by politics and who you know, not what you do. The overall promo budget is capped each year, and all promos MUST fit into the dollar cap value. Despite worthy promo candidates based on the merit of their work, you will get cut out and no promo is there is no budget for it. In manufacturing in northern California plants, promos are decided by HR and the director. Your manager may recommend you for a promo, but they are puppets and have little or no sway. Either HR and the director sees you favorably (by reputation) since they don't know what you do or don't do, or they see your reputation poorly, then you have zero promo opportunities. I've seen this happen many times. If you have moderate skills and mediocre knowledge, but are great at saying YES sir, while kissing ass. You will ascend.