A former JPMorgan Chase and Co associate in London sued the bank on Monday at a UK employment triฌbunal, claiming she was treated differently to white employees.
According to Bloomberg, Sumanee Tharapatn, a Thai national who worked at JPMorgan Europe's London office, said she felt "targeted" and "bullied" by her manager, and quit because she felt she would never be promoted to vice president.
"I do not feel a person of, for example, British or United States background, would have been treated in the same way," Sumanee said at a hearing on Monday.
While the maximum amount Sumanee can be awarded for wrongful dismissal is about ฃ60,000 (Bt4 million), a successful claim for racial discrimination exposes employers to unlimited damages. She is seeking undisclosed damages.
JPMorgan lawyers argued that Sumanee, who oversaw credit prodฌuct control, was not able to take constructive criticism, and that feedback from managers reflected issues with her management ability, delegating skills and product knowledge. She joined JPMorgan Europe in August 2006 and left a year later.
Daphne Romney, JPMorgan's lawyer, accused Sumanee of "throwing allegations of racism around" without substance. Romley also said Sumanee rejected critical comments about her own job performance while making accusations about managers. "You're very free with your criticism of everyone else and you were when you were working there," Romney said.
Colette Campbell, a spokeswoman for JPMorgan, said she had no comment when reached last Monday.
