 "UK tribunal upholds dismissal of Wipro worker")
Wipro, India's third-largest information technology services company, on Wednesday said a court in the United Kingdom had upheld the dismissal of a former employee in the country, Shreya Ukil. She had brought charges of sexual discrimination, unequal pay and unfair dismissal against the company.
In a petition filed before the Central London Employment Tribunal in October last year, Ukil, who worked as a sales and marketing manager, had claimed that she was subjected to "deeply predatory, misogynistic culture" at Wipro, and had sought damages to the tune of £1 million (around Rs 10 crore).
Read more from our special coverage on "WIPRO"
"Wipro is pleased the UK Employment Tribunal has upheld the dismissal of the complainant from the services of the organisation as appropriate and rejected claims of adverse cultural attitude towards women in the organisation," the company said.
However, in a press release issued late Wednesday, Ukil claimed the tribunal had found many of her complaints valid, including her unfair dismissal. "The claimant was unfairly dismissed," said the summary judgment, adding that "the complaint of wrongful dismissal fails and is dismissed".
According to Ukil and her lawyers, the court also found the comments of some of her former colleagues about her on different occasions reflected an "extra undercurrent of sexism in their attitudes" towards her, with remarks that "plainly conveyed a sexist innuendo."
In her petition, Ukil also alleged that she was discriminated against in terms of her pay with a salary package of £75,000 a year, almost half the amount her male equivalents were drawing at that time. "The complaints of disability discrimination, and the Equality Act 2010 claims relating to stock options, are dismissed upon withdrawal," the judgment said.
Ukil had alleged the atmosphere for women employees at Wipro was "toxic", and she was manipulated into having an affair with a senior executive.
The court, however, observed that it could not find enough evidence to her claim to say that "she was pressured into a relationship that she was reluctant to enter".
Meanwhile, Wipro has said the "company has built its business over the years by ensuring it adheres to the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and ethical corporate practices. Any transgression of these beliefs and policies will continue to be dealt with expeditiously and with the strictest action."
