News: Contract Law
Management training necessity: F&C discrimination ruling upheld
17 August 2008
The consequences of neglecting the importance of management training and discrimination awareness have been highlighted for the third time by F&C Asset Management.
According to the Financial Times, the fund manager faces "a record payout" after a London employment tribunal ruled again in favour of its former legal head.
Lawyer Gill Switalski is seeking £19 million in damages for an alleged 18-month campaign of bullying and harassment.
The 51-year-old won a separate sex discrimination complaint against the firm earlier this year, centring on her repeated exclusion from senior management meetings and bosses' failure to accommodate her flexible working requests.
In June, F&C tried to have her claim thrown out over her "lack of credibility'' and an alleged failure to reveal key facts to the tribunal.
"My client has been subjected to a hostile publicity campaign during these protracted proceedings, as well as being subjected to surveillance and unnecessary scrutiny by private investigators," Ms Switalski's solicitor, Howard Hymanson, said in a statement.
"Our client has, throughout this process, refused to provide any public comment and instead has put her faith in the employment tribunal system."
A hearing set for February is expected to determine the damages finally awarded to the lawyer.
