Female Investment Banker Launches Sexual Discrimination Case

An investment banker from London is claiming £3.5 million against her former employer for sexual discrimination and unfair dismissal.

Dalal Belghiti, 36, who was senior vice president of the International Credit team at investment bank Jefferies International Ltd, said women at her workplace were treated like sex objects and claims she was frozen out for being a woman.

Speaking of her time at Jefferies, Ms Belghiti said:

"As soon as I commenced employment with Jefferies, I became aware that some of my male colleagues held inappropriate and sexualised conversations whilst at work.

"They would often discuss their former relationships with Jefferies' employees, comment on the sexual attractiveness of female television newscasters and make general sexualised comments about women including those with whom they worked.

"If they found a woman attractive, they would say that they had a 'bid' for her, whilst to denote unattractiveness, they would say 'offers only'."

Ms Belghiti, who was forced to quit after being handed poor-performing clients as a result of her gender and complaints, resigned in March 2014 with a tribunal currently on-going.

If you've been a victim of sexual discrimination or unfair dismissal, contact our employment solicitors on 020 8297 4414 for advice.

Mandy Peters

Employment Solicitors