> One of the things that bothers me the most about the United States is

I don't think that is limited to the USA and IMHO the "ass-in-seats" mentality is as bad or worse in most other countries.

Moreover, the thing about the "results-only" approach is that it can lead to precarious employment where you get vicious "rank-and-yank" style management. The complaint in the article is that people are feeling that they can't get ahead even if they work hard.

Perhaps this isn't even really about "ass-in-seat" vs "results-only"? I think its about opportunities getting snubbed.