Getting Passed Over for Promotion in Favor of an Executive’s Son-in-Law
How do deal with an employer who isn’t meritocratic.
I gazed up at the towering rows of bright windows reflecting the morning sun. Clouds drifted in and out of its reflection, absorbing into the building, before being released out of the other side like a freed prisoner. It was my first day as an analyst at the corporate headquarters for a medium sized retailer. The office was on the 40th floor. My fear of heights trickled in as the transparent elevator ascended the building.
The elevator opened, revealing a bustling grey grid of cubicles sprawling out in front of me. People quietly walked in various directions, carrying stacks of papers, milling about at cubicles. One man leaned far back in his chair, seemingly bored to oblivion with a long phone call. There was clearly plenty of work to go around.
“Sean?” I heard from behind me.
I turned to see my new boss, Jeremy, standing beside the receptionist. We shook hands and he led me to his office. Jeremy was a good ol’boy type, who talked about the latest football games with the other guys, played golf at any waking opportunity, and indulged a two martini lunch every wednesday. He’d just been promoted from a non-managerial position prior to my being hired.
