A City giant AIG sued a black financial worker after she claimed that her boss had dismissed her claim of being the victim of unconscious bias.
Julie Nyeko, an investment apprentice, told Brenda Monaghan that she worried about being treated unfairly because of her race.
She argued that colleagues should be trained in how to spot prejudices and avoid them.
A managing director of the international financial firm, Ms Monaghan had been monitoring the trainee because she perceived problems with her attendance record, work ethic and other aspects.
A senior executive denied her claim after it was brought up at a meeting about the work of the 23-year old, which was heard by an employment tribunal.
Miss Nyeko was ‘bullied’ by Ms Monaghan, who ‘effectively said her race discrimination didn’t exist on her team’. She claimed that it had a ‘number of women’ as well as a ‘one Indian.
Miss Nyeko was eventually fired after gross misconduct, including her failures to perform work as required and claims for overtime pay.
Julie Nyeko, investment apprentice told Brenda Monaghan (pictured), that she worried about being treated unfairly because of her race.
After bringing an Employment Tribunal victimisation case regarding the unconscious bias claim, the junior worker in investment has now successfully sued AIG.
This term refers to a social stereotype that people form about certain types of people without realizing it.
Following graduation from university in 2018, Miss Nyeko joined AIG Asset Management Europe London’s Global Analysts Programme.
Following today’s hearing in central London, she is eligible for compensation.
According to the tribunal, Frances Torsney and Ms Monaghan became worried about Miss Nyeko’s absences.
In an interview about Miss Nyeko’s performance in January 2020 Ms Monaghan (MD of AIG Europe’s global estate division) told Miss Nyeko that she was solely responsible for her disabled brother.
She said she thought she was being victim to unconscious bias.
The tribunal reported that Ms Monaghan told her she worried about ‘unconscious bias.’ She said she didn’t feel included and was being given the task of completing fascinating work.
“She said she believed that Global Real Estate needed to be trained in unconscious bias, that she wanted to establish an Employee Resource Group and help black employees with their unconscious bias issues and set up a support group.
“Ms Monaghan said to the tribunal that she had asked Miss Nyeko about examples of people who were unconsciously biased towards her, and she also asked her if she believed Ms Monaghan was unconsciously biased.
Miss Nyeko was then emailed by Ms Monaghan, who said: “The team has a well-diversified workforce with many women. It is arguably better than other real estate companies.
I haven’t experienced or seen any bias among the team, which includes one Indian (Naveen) and many other cultural backgrounds.
Ms Monaghan is a managing director of the international financial firm. (Image: Its London office). She was watching the trainee because she had concerns about her work ethics.
Also, the tribunal heard that Ms Monaghan had responded to Miss Nyeko saying she was caring for her younger brother and said it was a ‘dismissive act’. She told Miss Nyeko to get up earlier.
Miss Nyeko later flew to Uganda in a family emergency, but she lost her visa so that she couldn’t return home before the end of her annual leave.
The tribunal found that Ms Monaghan, Ms Torsney and her lack of’sympathy’ were not true and accused her even of lying about having been in Uganda.
Miss Nyeko was placed under disciplinary scrutiny and then fired for gross misconduct. She claimed for overtime pay for days that she didn’t work.
According to the tribunal, Miss Nyeko was found guilty when she claimed that Ms Monaghan had an unconscious bias and Ms Torsney had a continual negative attitude towards her.
The ruling stated: “Ms Monaghan basically told a junior African employee that there was no race discrimination on the team.
“The Tribunal ruled that Miss Nyeko’s junior employees’ concerns were dismissed in this manner, and without any obligation to reflect or talk about the matter again.
Miss Nyeko was challenged by Ms Monaghan, who asked her to give examples of unconscious bias. She also directly inquired if she thought that Ms Monaghan displayed it.
“This would have been extremely challenging for Miss Nyeko (a junior employee) who, according to the tribunal, tried to bring up the topic in a non-confrontational manner.
“Ms Monaghan countered her, stating that the team was varied. She didn’t agree to examine unconscious bias again or talk about it.
“The Tribunal took into consideration the fact that Miss Nyeko was a trainee, and Ms Monaghan was an experienced manager with considerable authority.
She was currently a trainee/apprentice as a graduate and wanted to continue working after her training. After raising serious concerns, she was dismissed by her manager. This allowed her to continue her professional career.
The tribunal found that Ms Monaghan, Ms Torsney and Mr. Monaghan were aggressive and antagonistic toward her during their meeting about caring for brother.
It ruled that AIG Europe didn’t wrongly dismiss Miss Nyeko because she claimed for her pay on the days she wasn’t working was “sufficiently serious” to justify dismissal.
Miss Nyeko will receive compensation for victimisation at an unknown date.
In addition, she will be compensated for a successful claim of unlawful deductions of wages over five days.