ANTI-NEPOTISM law discrimination!?

Question

I am a 19 year old college student. I live on a military base where my father is the commander of the base. Therefore he is in charge of many things. When I went to apply for a job, I was told to volunteer for a while and apply for the position, an entry level courier position, and that the experience should help me qualify for the job. I volunteered for a month and was told I was going to be interviewed and after I did, I was told to wait for a phone call telling me if I got the job. After two weeks, I was told that I cannot work for this organization because I would be working for my father. I am going to file an official complaint at my Equal Opportunity Office for many reasons. I was NOT told when I applied that I was not elligible for employment. I even qualify for something called Family Member Preference since I am overseas. However, because of my Fathers position I am now told I cannot work for anything under him, even though he had no say in the hiring process because I was so far below him. I was also the only one who qualified for the job by the way. I believe no one else applied.

Any advice or things I should be reading to help me fight this?

Answer 1

Anti-nepotism rules are not discrimination.  Even though your feeling that this isn't "fair" might be correct, it isn't illegal.  And EEOC isn't going to get involved.  Discrimination is unequal treatment for situations protected by law, such as race or gender.

Answer 2

Military law is different than civil law. You won't have a chance winning a lawsuit if you file one for anti nepotism. If you worked for yout dad, that's called nepotism. Besides, because you dad is in charge of the entire base, you cannot work there. You simply need to find a job off base.

Answer 3

I don't know that you can do anything. I am having the opposite problem-I just lost out to 4 jobs only because I was not related to or friends with someone in each of the places. It is disgusting, because 3 of the employers wanted me, but because of the politics they were forced to hire the other people. It is so unfair, as I have worked so hard and achieved a BA with honors. I sure wish I could do something about this, but I cannot.

The only thing that gets me with you is that you applied for something way below your dad's position. I believe you had the right to apply, and if no one else was better for the job, it is a shame you could not be chosen. But, it seems like those rules are set in stone and they are there for people like me, who do not have the connections and are better qualified than many people who do.

What does your dad say? I wish you luck. I think you are in a no-win situation, though. I feel badly for you, I can understand it.

Good luck!