A former principal at PricewaterhouseCoopers repeatedly had credit score taken for her work, endured “abusive and disrespectful” conduct and was pushed out of her function sooner or later earlier than her five-year work anniversary — when she would have grow to be eligible for sure job protections and vesting of her 401(ok) account — in keeping with a lawsuit filed July 22 within the U.S. District Courtroom for the Southern District of New York (Owens v. PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLC).
The plaintiff, a 55-year-old Asian American lady, joined PwC in 2019 to construct out a digital transformation associated to funds. Below the supervision of 1 supervisor, a White male, she mentioned she had leads she had generated taken away and was stored from pursuing new enterprise alternatives. Moreover, a White male companion allegedly stole credit score for income she generated and blocked a promotion, in keeping with the grievance.
The principal additionally labored with one other male companion who threatened and berated her, refused to permit her to talk on convention calls, yelled at her in entrance of administrators and despatched derogatory emails about her, she alleged — remedy she mentioned she by no means noticed males equally subjected to. She filed complaints with PwC about his habits together with one other feminine director however was punished as an alternative, in keeping with the lawsuit.
The plaintiff exceeded income targets regardless of having credit score and purchasers taken from her, in keeping with the lawsuit, however was let go on the finish of a five-year “conditional supply” interval earlier than turning into a full principal, she alleged.
Particularly, she mentioned she was let go sooner or later earlier than her five-year anniversary “so as to deprive her of sure protections afforded companions and principals to which she would have been entitled” and to disclaim “vesting in varied wealth constructing property, together with 40% of her 401(ok) account matching funds.”
The employee additional alleged she was underpaid compared to her White, male counterparts.
She alleged violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Worker Retirement Earnings Safety Act, together with New York state wage regulation. The lawsuit requests reduction within the type of compensatory, liquidated and punitive damages, equitable and injunctive reduction, and attorneys’ charges and prices.
PwC denied the allegations in an announcement offered to HR Dive.
“PwC handled Ms. Owens pretty, and her claims in any other case are baseless,” a PwC spokesperson mentioned. “PwC admitted her to the partnership and offered her with in depth assets to assist her. The choice to withdraw her from the partnership was primarily based on respectable enterprise issues and decided in accordance with PwC’s partnership settlement to which she agreed when she was admitted — which additionally requires she pursue her claims earlier than a impartial arbitrator. PwC may have these meritless claims moved to arbitration, after which will defeat them.”
Correction: This story’s headline beforehand misidentified the kind of profit that will vest upon the worker’s fifth 12 months at PwC. The grievance states that varied wealth-building property, together with 401(ok) account matching funds, would vest at the moment.
