Examining the career plateau among police officers

Purpose This study aims to examine the career plateau by comparing police officers having 15 or more years of service who had been promoted with police officers having 15 or more years of service who had not. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 389 police officers in Norway using anonymously completed questionnaires, a 62 percent response rate. Findings Plateaued officers were younger, had less police tenure and were more educated than were non‐plateaued officers. Plateaued officers also reported less favorable work outcomes and greater cynicism. The two groups of officers indicated generally similar levels of psychological health suggesting that potential negative consequences of the career plateau were limited to the workplace. Research limitations/implications All data collected using self‐reports raising the possibility of common method bias. Study needs to be replicated in police forces in other countries. Practical implications Suggestions for reducing the negative effects of the career plateau are offered. Originality/value The study extends research on the career plateau to police organizations