Do companies need to advertise jobs internally by law?

[heisthegaffer]

Morning all

My wife has worked somewhere for a number of years and a few years ago a peer was promoted to team leader with resultant pay rise.

At the time my wife was a little miffed but got on with things but commented that the person did absolutely nothing that she was supposed to do team leader wise.

That role wasn't advertised and it simply meant that one day they did the same role and the next they didn't. This lady then came back from maternity leave but in the same position as my wife.

Fast forward to now and this has happened again with no opportunity for my wife to apply and my wife noted that her peer and the manager responsible for them both are extremely close to each other.

I don't know a huge amount of what companies can or can't do hence the question but are they allowed to just give people new roles without giving others a fair crack of the whip?

Thanks in advance.

[heisthegaffer]

Thanks all.

Very frustrating for her.