Anybody shed any light on the following scenario re legality.....


Company hires Team Leader A
Company hires Technician B who reports to Team Leader C
Technician B is known (before employment to be in a long term relationship with Team Leader A)
Team Leader A is promoted to Head of Department and becomes Line Manager of Team Leader C
Technician B applies for position vaccated by Team Leader A, but is advised by company that they can't apply as if succesful they would have to report to somebody with whom they are in a long term relationship with...

Are the companies actions legal?


Would the compnaies previous stance on others at a more junior level affect this? (Team Leader D was in a year long releation ship with Technician E who reported to them at the full knowledge of Head of Department F)

Lets put this way, i got the boot from a previous job for trying to deal with a similar issue. Best advice stay well away.

Many companies operate a policy whereby you cannot line manage someone that you have a relationship with.

Yes. But they need to apply it equitably.