Investment Bank Under Alleged Sexual Orientation Discrimination
July 18, 2019
One of the world’s largest investment banks is being accused of discrimination by an openly gay employee. A former Goldman Sachs vice president filed a lawsuit in New York State Court in June 2019 alleging the company engaged in acts of homophobia and discrimination and retaliated with his firing when he complained about the treatment. The staffer was the head of the company’s LGBTQ network.
Prohibited Employment Discrimination
Discrimination in employment toward employees identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) is a significant problem in the United States workforce, despite recent social progress, including the 2015 Supreme Court decision legalizing same sex marriage across the U.S. A recent survey by the Human Rights Campaign discovered among other findings that 53 percent of LGBTQ employees reported being subjected to hearing homophobic humor in the workplace. The U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination across hiring, employment, and termination. The Goldman Sachs lawsuit comes at a time when more large corporations are having to answer for discriminatory practices that may violate employment law.
The former Goldman Sachs vice president, who had been with the company since 2010, alleges that following his internal complaints, he was subjected to unwarranted criticism in an employee review that he believes was used to create grounds for his dismissal, despite years of excellent documented performance reviews.
Goldman Sachs is a multinational investment bank and financial services corporation based in New York City with worldwide operations. Its high-profile name is well known to many for its involvement in the U.S. financial crisis. The company states it has a long record of support to LGBTQ diversity and notes that five percent of its partners identify as LGBTQ. No company is immune to discriminatory practices, however, and the outcome of the lawsuit will ultimately determine whether laws were violated. All employees, regardless of sexual orientation, have the right to a workplace free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
Cherry Hill Employment Lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates, P.C. Fight for LGBTQ Individuals Discriminated Against in the Workplace
If you are an employee who has experienced discrimination or harassment based on identifying as LGBTQ, it is strongly recommended to contact a Cherry Hill employment lawyer at Sidney L. Gold & Associates, P.C. With a record of success advocating for those whose rights have been violated, we will obtain the justice you deserve. Located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, we serve clients throughout South Jersey. For a free consultation, fill out our online form or call us at 215-569-1999 today.
