Is it legal to deny employment to someone because of a relationship with a current employee?

I work in a restaurant in NYC. We were in a desperate need of hostess so I recommended my girlfriend who is well qualified for the position. Anyways after being told she was welcome to come work she interviewed, filled out an application and also handed on copy of her social security and other information. Then all of a sudden after 3 weeks she's told that she cannot work here because of her current relationship with me. Is that legal? To me that feels like discrimination. Am I wrong?Is it legal to deny employment to someone because of a relationship with a current employee?
It is completely legal and common practice.
I believe current relationship status is one of the legal reasons to refuse employment to someone. The problem is that relationships have the potential to lead to preferential treatment here and there, so most companies have policies regarding who can work together, and in what capacities. Most companies set these policies up to avoid two people in a relationship from ever being in a supervisor-employee relationship, but it really does depend on the company.Is it legal to deny employment to someone because of a relationship with a current employee?
Totally legal. And you need to read up on the definition of discrimination - it's being treated differently because you're member of a legally protected class eg based on gender, race, being over 40. Having a relationship with another employee is NOT a protected class, so is NOT discrimination.



It might or might not be a wise policy, but it's legal.
In most places it is not consider good policy and not permitted as not bring home problems to work let alone working with them,start your own family business or another avenue but I have not found to many conditions in a work place that where good for the work place that involved having a significant other or other family member involved ,been there done that. and usually a 24/7 relationship will not allow you to tell them how much you missed them and other thing like that.Is it legal to deny employment to someone because of a relationship with a current employee?
If it says so in their Employment hand book or anything, sometimes they will hire for the same company but didnt place. SO yes it is legal in alot of states. My mother works for the ceo of a company so i can not work for that company and my husband works for a bank and i can work for the company not for that branch though!!
Any company in the US can hire, not hire, or fire any employee at any time without giving any reason at all. They just can't say "We fired you because you are black/handicapped/female/pregnant/disabl鈥? But they dont' have to give any reason at all.
Such policies are not discrimination as long as they are uniformly applied. Many companies have policies that prohibit spouses or relatives from employment.