Seattle, WA asked in Employment Law for Washington

Q: Can I be fired if a coworker dislikes my partner?

I am concerned about potential job security risks resulting from a personal situation. My coworker, who is close with the higher-ups at our company, seems to hold some animosity toward my partner after we crossed paths on a date night, as they live in the same building. Since then, I've noticed subtle changes in how I'm treated at work, which negatively affects my reputation with the higher-ups. I haven't reported this to HR yet because I'm unsure of the seriousness of the situation. Can I be fired under these circumstances, and what should I be mindful of in handling this matter?

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1 Lawyer Answer

A: The answer is possibly. It depends on the reason why your co-worker dislikes your partner. If the co-worker's dislike is based on your partner's membership in a protected class, you may have a claim under a "Cat's Paw" theory.

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