Some companies have thresholds after which up or out is no longer the case. The logic being, below this level, your seniors are putting more work into you than

Some companies have thresholds after which up or out is no longer the case. The logic being, below this level, your seniors are putting more work into you than you are producing (i.e. holding your hand, reviewing your work, generating new work for you to do, etc.). After you pass the threshold where you are a net contributor, you no longer have to go up if you don't want. Not sure how common this practice is.