Workers who want to climb the corporate ladder quickly should work for smaller companies because fewer of them have policies that require employees to have a year or two on the job before applying for an internal posting, according to a survey by the Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp).

The survey, which included 423 companies, found that 30 percent of organizations with more than 10,000 employees require workers to have one to two years on the job before they can apply for an internal posting. By contrast, just 16 percent of companies with 2,500 to 4,999 employees and 17 percent of companies with 500 to 2,499 employees have such policies.

"While it clearly is harder to move up in a larger company than it is in a smaller company, it makes sense for all companies to allow relative newcomers to apply for internal postings," says Jay Jamrog, senior vice president of research of i4cp. "Anecdotal evidence suggests that once workers know there are opportunities to take on new jobs, they become more motivated and engaged. This sends a strong message and winds up being an excellent retention tool. Large or small, in today's environment, where the 'war for talent' is becoming more fierce, allowing all employees the opportunity for immediate advancement is critical."

The survey also found that respondents were split on whether they should post all positions. Overall, 52 percent of respondents post all positions, while the rest post only certain levels of jobs. Again, the size of the company can make a difference. In companies with 499 or fewer employees, 60 percent post all positions, compared with only 30 percent of those with 5,000-9,999 employees.