Ask the Expert Randy Prange is a business advisor and CEO of Insights, Inc., a nationally recognized strategic planning and business development firm. Passed over for Promotion Q: My manager (executive level) resigned and recommended me for his job. The HR Director talked to me about my interest. I said, "Yes, I am interested." She told me they were concerned about my age and the age of my children (2 toddlers). I didn't get the job and the President of the company told me "It isn't the right time for you to get this position, hopefully you will realize that later." As a recognized top performer in the company who never missed a planned trip because of my children, I believe I am being discriminated against. Eighty percent of the executive team are males with stay at home wives and the remaining 20 percent are older women with no children. Any thoughts on how to proceed? Beth A: Dear Beth, The challenge you outlined, unfortunately, is not uncommon in the workplace. Employers too often lose site of the facts in their decision-making process and fall victim to stereotyping and unfounded performance assumptions. From my perspective you have an assortment of paths to choose. None of them easy. Recognize that this is not a company attuned to your best interests, or your philosophy and make the move to one that is a better match. Of course, do you homework here! Challenge the organization on the decision. This can be done from two extremes (and everything in the middle). One extreme is to approach your local ACLU or an attorney with a discrimination allegation case. This of course will pretty much rule out any future promotions at this company and, most likely, follow you for a number of years wherever you go. Although it should not, in reality, business people talk about this type of behavior. You might be on the moral high road, but you will probably travel it alone. The other approach is to request a short meeting with the decision maker(s) and state your case, relying specifically on your performance record. Be professional! Make it a business case you are discussing, not a personal, emotional one. Be friendly, be factual and leave out accusations or threats. Prepare a brief, one page maximum, report on your performance, number of times family has interfered with your performance (0, in this case) and detail the steps you have taken during your employment to educate yourself, improve performance and "go the extra mile" that they apparently perceive your more promotion-worthy coworkers have done. Be prepared that they may not change their decision. However, this approach is the more likely one to gain you advancement in the future and win your executive's confidence. Recently Asked Questions My new boss is ten years younger than I am, not married and practically lives at work. I feel like he expects me to do the same. What should I do? Randy's advice While in the process of interviewing for a new job, I found out I was pregnant. At what point should I tell them the good news? Randy's Answer Submit your questions Disclaimer: The information in this column is intended to provide the reader with general ideas or concepts to be used as part of a broader base of knowledge they collect to determine their own best course of action and solutions most suitable for solving their workplace challenges. The information in this column is not guaranteed to be the appropriate solution for each individual. The information provided is based on personal observations and experiences of the writer that have been garnered over years as a business manager, owner and executive business coach and counselor.