Is it illegal to contact and network with hiring mangers bypassing HR?

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Is it illegal to contact and network with hiring mangers bypassing HR?

Is it illegal to contact and network with hiring mangers bypassing HR? I had been trying to get into a company my wife works at for 8 months. I networked myself with hiring managers to make myself stand out. those managers have all moved on to other companies now. Since then HR told my wife it was illegal for me to contact them as it violates equal opportunity laws.

Asked on April 2, 2019 under Employment Labor Law, Wisconsin

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 4 years ago | Contributor

It is not illegal: there is NO law against networking, direct contacts, or even nepotism.
But it may be against company policy or practice: an employer is free to bar this and require all job candidates to go through HR, and is equally free to refuse to consider anyone who does not.


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