Yes, an employer can do this. The fact is that not all employees need to be treated the same, or even fairly. That is as long as no form af actionable discrimination plays a role in such treatment (and based on the facts presented it did no)t. Additionally, unless your employer's action was prohibited by the terms of an employment contract, union agreement or compay policy, it was legal.The fact is that in at will employment, an employer can set the terms and conditions of the workplace much as it sees fit. In turn, an employee can choose to work for an employer or not.