Barclays VP sues for $290,000, alleging discrimination
Reuters
Published Feb 13, 2024 01:52PM ET
Updated Feb 14, 2024 11:35AM ET
By Nell Mackenzie
LONDON (Reuters) -A Barclays vice president is suing the British bank for about 230,000 pounds ($290,000), alleging she was passed over for promotion because of racial, religious and sex discrimination.
Nazia Lawrence joined the bank in 2015 and works in execution services, a back office part of the bank that helps to implement post-crisis risk management rules. It also handles risk and controls.
Lawrence said in a statement as part of a London employment tribunal that she felt “completely let down” by Barclays, court filings in London showed on Tuesday.
Barclays declined to comment.
"There is a real need for more transparency in the city so that perceptions of discrimination can be avoided. There is little to no need to hide actions if they really are genuine," said Sheila Aly, Lawrence's lawyer, and a barrister in London.
After the bank expanded Lawrence's role in 2019 and as she continued to receive outstanding performance reports, she was treated less favourably than white male colleagues at the same professional level, who were promoted while she was not, Lawrence alleges in the court filings.
When she spoke up to mentors, they offered her new responsibilities that she was told would likely lead to a promotion, her statement said.
But as job vacancies at the British bank arose, she watched white male and female colleagues promoted above her, even as she gave one of them guidance on their duties, the filings said.
After her complaints grew more vocal and formalised through official grievances, her performance ratings began to fall, the court filings said.
They also said she suffered mental distress and took annual leave and periods of unpaid sick leave to recover.
In addition to financial compensation, Lawrence has asked the Employment Tribunal to recommend further training at Barclays and a transparent process to be outlined and adopted for promotions.
The case continues.
$1 = 0.7942 pounds)
Get The News You Want
Written By: Reuters
Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.