Recession Doesn't Excuse Discriminatory Firing

by Brittany Shoot · 2010-10-17 09:07:00 UTC
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As if being laid off during the recession wasn't bad enough, it looks like Citigroup may have used the economic downturn to engage in massive gendered firings. This is particularly contentious since Citigroup has taken federal bailout money while continuing to lay off workers. In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on Wednesday, the company has been accused of intentionally overlooking female employees for promotions, raises, and other company benefits. Filed on behalf of six women, it seeks class action status and unspecified damages.

Citigroup has a history of "boys club" hiring and promoting practices, and looking at their high-ranking committees — 5 women to 39 men on the Senior Leadership Committee and 19 men and no women on the Executive Committee — gives you a pretty good idea of what even the most capable senior-level women leaders are up against when it comes to advancing within the financial conglomerate. I'd also be remiss if I didn't note that Citibank was recently the subject of another lawsuit after they fired a female employee for "being too sexy." The current suit states that at least 50 women have complained about the sexist atmosphere (either on their own or someone else's behalf) since early 2007, many of whom then faced retaliation from the company.

The lawsuit points out that it's difficult to believe that the "statistically significant percentage" of female to male workers fired was random. It also says that despite being put on Working Mother magazine's Best Companies list for several years, female Citigroup employees who become pregnant or take child-related leave from work are actively discriminated against. At lease one was demoted after returning from maternity leave.

While we watch to see how the lawsuit plays out, you can tell Citigroup that you won't tolerate sexism in the workplace, especially under the guise of recessionary lay-offs. Stand with the lawsuit plaintiffs against gender discrimination.

Photo Credit: Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

Brittany Shoot is a freelance writer, editor and critic. She's one of the editors of the Feminist Review blog and a frequent contributor to a variety of progressive publications.
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