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Comment by outside1234 | Hacker News Reader

So my question is: Was the female employee also fired? If not, why not?

Nit: based on the article (as of 10a est), we don’t actually know if the subordinate was female :)

I think the superior->subordinate part of this is a much bigger offense than two equals breaking a no-dating policy. The situation leaves the manager and the company at risk of all kinds of harassment and abuse allegations.

> The company said Mr. Krzanich had violated a non-fraternization policy that applies to managers

Well the obvious literal answer is that the subordinate can't exploit the organizational power dynamic the way someone the CEO can, and misbehavior of a CEO brings bad press and dysfunction to hurt the company in a way that a random employee can't. But I'm sure that isn't relevant. The obvious true answer is that the board wanted to get rid of the CEO, didn't care about the affair, but used it as an excuse.

>Well the obvious literal answer is that the subordinate can't exploit the organizational power dynamic the way someone the CEO can

This is absolutely not the case. The dynamic surrounding someone who is sleeping with the CEO will be similar to the dynamic surrounding the CEO's brother. They get what they want, even if they want something dumb that isn't in the company's best interest, with little to no push-back because nobody wants to be on the CEO's bad side.

Well that's a very limited and simplistic best case scenario for the subordinate, but you'd really have to go out of your way to fail to see the other obvious possible outcomes that range from problematic to criminal.

His reply pointed out a specific abuse of power that negatively affects the company. You failed to do so in your reply.

And seriously, name one possible motivation other than extortion for starting a relationship with a married executive.

And for the married executive, name one possible motivation other than sexual interest for a relationship with a subordinate.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com