Banks must review discrimination policy lawyers say

By Katherine Knowles • March 24, 2006 - 0:00

Employees may be personally liable for discrimination, as well as firms.

5 Comments on Banks must review discrimination policy lawyers say

As the unfair dismissal for being gay trail continues, lawyers urge city banks to address implicit homophobic attitudes.

Speaking to Reuters, Michelle Mendelsson head of European diversity and inclusion at Credit Suisse said that: "One of our challenges … is how we engage this group."

Lawyers are warning bamks that they need to take diversity training seriously, as new legislation tightens up discrimination employment laws.

"There is this jokey culture about diversity training," said lawyer Mark Hunt from Reed Smith. He warned that discrimination cases needed to be taken very seriously and clearly understood by employees and firms alike: "not only can the claim be against the employer, it can also be against the individual who is doing the harassment."

Yet on in the global market companies will have to be careful about their policies. In accelerated growth markets such as India, homosexuality is illegal, though rarely prosecuted.

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