denotes premium content | Aug 21 2008 
News
posted 31 Mar 2008
Lawyer wins discrimination case
A CITY lawyer is seeking a record ₤13m in damages after winning a series of sex discrimination and harassment claims brought against her former employer, F&C Asset Management.
An employment tribunal heard Gill Switalski suffered stress and depression after a series of disputes with a line manager over working hours.
She worked flexible hours to care for her two disabled children; one with cerebral palsy and another who has Asperger’s syndrome.
However, her lawyers argued she had to leave her ₤140,000-a-year role as head of legal services in September 2007 after 18 months of harassment and sexual discrimination.
Switalski claimed her time out of the office and expenses were unreasonably scrutinised and questioned, and that she was overlooked for management positions, while a male colleague, also with a disabled child, was treated differently.
F&C Asset Management, which denies all allegations, is launching an appeal.
In a statement, the firm said it was “disappointed in the breakdown in trust between the company and Ms Switalski which has resulted in an employment tribunal.”
“We vigorously refute all of the claims made against the company and an appeal is pending against the adverse findings made,” it continued.
Switalski’s lawyers have estimated the cost of psychiatric damage, lost earnings and future career prospects to be in the region of ₤13.4m, which would be a new record for a sex discrimination case.
