EVIL HR LADY
DILEMMA OF THE MONTH
Were You Passed Over for a Promotion ?
BY Suzanne Lucas
ILLUSTRATION : JOHN CHASE
I ’ ve been working in a key position at my company for 20 years . When a management position opened for which I am highly qualified , I applied and , frankly , expected to land the promotion . My company instead promoted a male colleague who has similar experience but has only been with the company for 10 years . Do I have any recourse ?
While you don ’ t say specifically , I assume that you ’ re a woman and that ’ s why you ’ re concerned about a male colleague receiving the promotion over you . Was this a case of gender discrimination ? Possibly , but not necessarily . Here ’ s why and what you should do .
Time in position rarely matters
There is some logic to the idea that promotions are given to the person who has been doing the lower-level job the longest . You often work your way up through longevity . And in union situations , this is often the case . Seniority brings privileges .
In the nonunion world , though , seniority doesn ’ t make much difference .
What hiring managers should look at is the skills needed to do a good job in the higher role , not who has been in the position the longest .
You say you ’ ve been doing your job for 20 years , and your colleague has similar experience but has only been at the company for 10 years . There is probably little that you know that he doesn ’ t , at least as far as practical knowledge . Sure , you remember something that happened in 2003 before he joined the company , but it ’ s unlikely to affect day-to-day operations .
Having a similar background but experience in different companies can actually be a bonus . Understanding that the way your company does
22 comstocksmag . com | March 2021