https://www.forbes.com/sites/kimelsesser/2023/12/07/citigroup-exec-sues-for-sexual-harassment-a-new-law-allows-her-voice-to-be-heard/?sh=98d780a3e074
Citigroup Exec Sues For Sexual Harassment. A New Law Allows Her Voice To Be Heard
Ardith Lindsey, a managing director in Citigroup’s electronic markets division, is suing the bank, alleging she endured sexual harassment and sexual assault in an environment where women were regularly objectified. Before 2022, all such cases at Citigroup would have been forced into arbitration, but a recent federal law allows victims of sexual harassment and assault to have their voices heard in court.
In the complaint filed in the Southern District of New York, Lindsey compares the trading floor at Citi to a locker room where men treat women as sexual objects, rank the appearance of female employees, openly discuss which female colleagues they want to have sex with and comment on women’s bodies. The suit further states that male executives created a boys’ club environment, viewed women as entertainment and took clients to strip clubs. For client dinners, they “invited women – who were not Citi clients, employees, or spouses and had no reason to be there – to serve as entertainment for the men,” the complaint alleges.
Lindsey told me how she felt the need to alter her behavior to deflect attention from herself while at work. “I refused to walk down the center aisle [of the trading floor] because it was viewed as a catwalk with people looking at your appearance and talking about your appearance.” She added, “I don't need glasses, but I wore glasses. I just tried not to be the focus. And tried to be left alone.” She described how “demoralizing” it felt to work in an environment where women were objectified. “You think you're coming into this professional environment. And it's anything but that,” she said.
Adding credence to her allegations, the New York Times reported ten former Citi employees agreed that there was a hostile work environment for female employees at the bank. Erin Daly, who worked in Citi’s private banking area, unsuccessfully tried to skirt the arbitration requirement at Citi and filed a complaint in 2018. She also described the environment as a boys’ club, and said she was forced to apologize in writing for asking for equal treatment.
With regard to Lindsey’s case, Mark Costiglio, a spokesperson for Citigroup, said via email, “Citi will defend against Ms. Lindsey’s claims in court. Setting aside what we think are the merits of any individual claim, however, our values and expectations are clear—no one should ever be discriminated against or harassed in the workplace. Our colleagues should feel confident they can raise concerns about themselves or others without fear of retribution, and decisive action must be taken when unacceptable behavior takes place. We regularly review and update our policies and look for innovative ways to ensure they are understood and followed by all colleagues.”According to Lindsey, the pervasive sexism at the bank empowered men to engage in even more egregious behaviors. Weeks after she started at the bank, at a holiday party, a senior executive pressured Lindsey to stay out drinking with him, threatening to fire her if she went home. After visits to several bars, the executive insisted on walking her home and pressured his way into her apartment under the guise of needing to use her restroom. He refused to leave, kissing her without her consent. Although she says she reported the incident to her manager, no action was taken. The bank says they have no record of a complaint.
Later in her career, she describes being coerced into a relationship with a senior executive, Mani Singh. At the time, Singh was more senior than Lindsey and frequently flaunted his power over her. “He made very clear the power that he had and direct threats in terms of what he could do to me,” she told me.
When she tried to end the relationship, she was barraged with texts from Singh, threatening her life, her career and her children. The complaint highlighted several texts as evidence, including: “And I am going to set you on fire”; “[H]ug [your children] tight” because your “world will be over [tomorrow]”; “Your kids[‘] life will be ruined from here on in”; and “Your children will have no future with [a] Slut like you.”
Costiglio says, “With regard to Mr. Singh, the conduct detailed in the complaint is deplorable, but the relationship Ms. Lindsey describes differs significantly from the accounts she previously provided to Citi.” He says that Lindsey had previously described Singh as “a friend.” He added, “Last year when she reported the vile text messages to us, she described the relationship as having been consensual. We immediately placed Mr. Singh on leave and began an investigation. Mr. Singh resigned within days before the investigation could be completed.” Singh could not be reached for comment.
When Singh left the bank, his boss, Tim Gately, told employees that he had resigned for “personal and family reasons,” according to Lindsey’s complaint. “We’re all very sorry to see him go,” Gately allegedly added, “but it was his decision, and we wish him well.”
But Lindsey makes it clear her issue isn’t just with Singh. Instead, it’s about the environment that let Singh and the pervasive sexism thrive. That’s why her suit is against Citigroup and not Singh. “I think a lot of the focus to date has been on Mani Singh—I think that's really where Citi wants the focus to be. But it's much more about the institution that created this person and allowed this person to repeatedly do things to me and other people,” she told me. “The firm just fails to act to protect women like myself,” she added.
After these experiences, doctors diagnosed Lindsey with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety and deemed her unable to work. Lindsey is currently on an approved leave of absence from Citi.
Prior to 2022, Lindsey’s case would have been forced into arbitration, and the details would not have been public record. Her allegations and this suit came to light thanks to a 2022 federal law that prevents companies from forcing cases of sexual harassment and assault into arbitration. Nonetheless, Lindsey says that Citi executives tried to persuade her to pursue arbitration in this case. The case is one of the first high-profile cases to be filed since the law passed.
Former Fox News anchor, Gretchen Carlson, and her organization Lift Our Voices worked tirelessly advocating for Congress to pass the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act. Carlson learned from her own experience suing Fox News chairman Roger Ailes how forced arbitration could silence victims. Now, the new law helps women like Lindsey tell their stories publicly.
"Our law to end forced arbitration for sexual misconduct is the reason organizations like Citi can no longer sweep toxic behavior under the rug and that these claims can no longer be buried in the secret chamber of arbitration. The ability for survivors to come forward with their claims gives others the courage to hold predators accountable and will finally bring real and meaningful change to the American workplace," Carlson wrote via email.
Lindsey expressed gratitude for the ability to speak about her experiences. “I am incredibly grateful for all the work that has been done. The women and politicians that have been tirelessly working so women are no longer forced to be silent about their experiences.” She says that many women who were subjected to the arbitration hearings at Citigroup have been reaching out to her and that she believes the forced arbitration allowed the environment at Citi to go unchecked.
“It certainly didn't make it a better place. Things are swept under the rug, and women are silent. So, I'm incredibly grateful for not being someone who can be silenced and that I’m able to come forward about my experiences,” she said.
A gender bias expert, Kim Elsesser, Ph.D., is the author of Sex and the Office, and she taught classes on gender at UCLA for eight years. She
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