inloveatwork
Junior Member
I have been employed in California in a top selling department of a large retail corporation for 2 years. I was hired at a part-time level because even with less hours the money was still better than working full time in another department. In a few months our store is expanding and one more full time position in my department will be opening up. Full time means more hours, a pay increase, and benefits (which I need BADLY.) This is the first time any such promotion has been made available to me, and since I have the most seniority in the department and I have consistently performed well, I figured I would be a great candidate for the position. I was informed yesterday that I will not even be considered for the promotion, on the grounds that I am dating a co-worker in the same department. I was told it had "nothing to do" with me, or my performance, and when I mentioned that our relationship had never gotten in the way of my professionalism, the manager agreed that it had not. I have been over and over our employee handbook, and I see nothing about rules regarding fraternization or inappropriate relationships with co-workers. It has never been mentioned to me in the past that the managers considered my relationship inappropriate. My question is this: Is this a fair consideration for my employer to take? Is this a form of discrimination? It might be worth mentioning that dating has taken place many many times within our store, and no one has ever been punished for it. I am being treated like "I should have known" it was wrong, and that it was going to adversely affect my employment in the future; but since there is no rule about it I feel I am being unfairly punished. What is my next step?