Former Wipro employee in UK sues company over sexual harassment allegations

Accuses the company of sexual harassment, unequal pay, and unfair dismissal

Wipro, the information technology major, has been sued by a former employee in Britain on sexual discrimination, harassment and other charges. The former employee is seeking £1 million (Rs 10 crore) in damages. The Bengaluru-based firm has contested the allegations, saying it would initiate legal action, and that the staffer had been asked to go after an inquiry.

In a petition filed before the Central London Employment Tribunal, Shreya Ukil, 39, who was a sales and marketing manager for the company in the UK, has filed a sexual discrimination and equal pay claim. She claims she was subjected to “deeply predatory, misogynistic culture” at Wipro, says a report in The Daily Telegraph, London. She also alleged she was discriminated against in terms of pay, with a package of £75,000 a year, almost half of what male equivalents got at the time.

Ukil has alleged the atmosphere for women at Wipro was “toxic” and she was manipulated into having an affair with the then senior vice-president and head of BPO, Manoj Punja, who is now with another Bengaluru-based firm as executive vice-president for global sales, solutions and client services.

THE CLAIMS

• Ex-Wipro staffer in London Shreya Ukil sues company, seeks £1 mn in compensation
   
• Alleges she was subjected to a ‘deeply predatory, misogynistic culture’ at Wipro
   
• Claims she was manipulated into having an affair with ex-BPO boss Manoj Punja
   
• Says she was punished for daring to speak out
   
• Accuses company of disparity in payment to female staffers

In a statement on Wednesday, Wipro said, “Both Punja and Ukil were relieved from the services following an impartial inquiry, which established beyond reasonable doubt that they had violated the stated policy.”

Wipro said its policy on conflict of interest required employees to disclose to the organisation any personal relationship that could create conflict. The company added that it took strong objection to these allegations.

The company said that it would initiate legal action to defend itself against “insidious and defamatory allegations”. “(We have) built the business over the years by ensuring (we) adhere to the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and ethical corporate practices. Any transgression of these beliefs and policies are dealt with expeditiously and with the strictest action,” it added.

In an internal mail to employees, Wipro Chief Executive Officer (CEO) T K Kurien has said the company, for past many years, has been having a global prevention of sexual harassment committee, with a senior woman employee as the chairperson and with members from across locations, including an external expert. The cases are also reviewed quarterly along with the corporate compliance committee that has the CEO and the chairman as the members. “Our company has been built on a bedrock of values, which will remain the guiding principles for our culture and behavior in Wipro. These bind us together and inspire us to achieve excellence in whatever we do,” said the mail, reviewed by Business Standard.

There have been some reported instances of sexual harassment incidents in the IT sector in the recent past. In 2013, IGATE, (now part of Capgemini) had dismissed its then chief executive, Phaneesh Murthy, for not having disclosed a relationship with a subordinate employee in the US. A similar sexual misconduct charge at Infosys in 2003 had cost Murthy his job, where he was then heading global sales in the US. Infosys subsequently settled the suit out of court for $3 million.

In the present case, Ukil's allegations are not limited to sexual harassment. She has, as noted, pointed to issues of disparity in payment to women employees.

“Our guiding principles have always been matters of the highest priority for our leadership and they have consistently set the tone from the top, through examples in action and thought,” the Wipro statement added.