A Citi staffer who was fired for allegedly saying it was a “nightmare” to work with Indians is suing the financial institution, claiming she confronted discrimination herself over her menopausal signs and lengthy COVID circumstances.
Ann Watson, former senior vice chairman in Citi’s Finance Options Group, slapped the financial institution with a lawsuit filed in London after she was fired in 2023.
Throughout an inside digital job interview, Watson allegedly informed an interviewer of Indian heritage: “The project failed because I was working with a team of Indians. No offense to you, Kapil, but you know what Indians are like to work with. It’s a nightmare.”
Within the go well with, Watson alleged she was unfairly dismissed and discriminated in opposition to for her intercourse, age and disabilities — together with menopause and lengthy COVID-19 signs like mind fog, reminiscence loss and uncharacteristic conduct.
She is in search of compensation for unfair dismissal.
Citi denied the allegations. The financial institution declined to remark.
The financial institution claimed that after Watson made the alleged racist remark, she was positioned in an internet ready room.
When the interview resumed, she allegedly mentioned: “Now it’s your chance, Kapil, to get me back.”
Watson claimed she was “shocked” when, practically a month after the interview, Citi’s human assets staff informed her she was going through an accusation of constructing a racist remark.
“I was horrified to hear these as I would not blame a culture or country for any kind of failure or direct any such comments toward an interview panel that I was applying for a role with,” she mentioned in a witness assertion for a London listening to on the case.
Watson was apologetic, although she claimed she couldn’t keep in mind the alleged derogatory remark.
“I did not deny making the comments as I simply could not recall as a result of my long COVID-19 and menopausal symptoms,” she mentioned.
Fairly, she alleged she was let go due to her medical circumstances at 55 years previous. The “too harsh” firing didn’t have in mind her 12 years of service on the financial institution, Watson argued.
Citi mentioned its investigation into Watson was truthful and neutral, and stood by the choice to fireplace her.
Her alleged signs couldn’t have “made or contributed to the claimant making racist comments,” legal professionals for the financial institution mentioned.
