Extra hours can help a team and still fail as promotion evidence.
A stronger case shows the job has changed shape.
The employee now owns a client portfolio, trains 2 teammates, and removes a recurring delay that used to slow other people down.
That record matters because promotion is about durable responsibility and effect, not exhaustion.
Keep the monthly proof close: decisions owned, problems reduced, and work that now depends on your judgment. The title should be catching up to the role.