A City worker today demanded better protection for women in the workplace after winning her claim for sex discrimination against a top bank.
Stacey Macken, 48, was belittled by colleagues at BNP Paribas who repeatedly told her “not now, Stacey” and left a witch’s hat on her desk after they had been out drinking.
She said there was a “hostile” culture at the bank’s London office and claimed she was paid less than male colleagues on the same level.
Speaking after winning her claim at an employment tribunal, Ms Macken told the Evening Standard: “This is a major victory for women and proves that pay discrimination is occurring in the banking industry.
“I hope this case sends a message to employers to do the right thing and immediately rectify valid equal pay claims as soon as they are raised rather than putting the women in their organisation through such a difficult ordeal.”
She added: “I never thought that it would take three years to have my issues addressed ... I was put under an extreme amount of pressure for such an extended period that it has ended up detrimentally affecting my health, and ruining me financially.”
Ms Macken, of Fulham, was hired in 2013 but claimed she was exposed to sexist behaviour within weeks.
The Central London Employment Tribunal ruled in her favour relating to claims of unequal pay, sex discrimination and victimisation.
Ms Macken took the bank to a tribunal in April, claiming more than £4 million in compensation and back pay. The size of the award she will receive has yet to be determined.
A spokesman for BNP Paribas declined to comment on the ruling.
