An executive working for Trustly, Inc., a major financial services provider, has filed a sex discrimination claim in federal court, alleging underpayment and retaliation by the company. The lawsuit accuses the company of firing her after complaining about female executives being underpaid compared to their male counterparts. The suit also accuses the company of having a “tech-bro culture” that is hostile to women overall, contributing to the circumstances that resulted in her dismissal.
What is Trustly?
Trustly, Inc., is a financial services company originally founded in 2012, headquartered out of Stockholm in Sweden. It is an “open banking” system that enables people to pay for goods and services from their online bank account, supporting more than 6,000 banks internationally. Its customers include the likes of PayPal, Alibaba, Facebook, GoFundMe, Dell, and Lyft, among many others.
Why Did the Executive File This Suit?
The executive filed a lawsuit in New Jersey federal court against the company for alleged sex discrimination, as well as retaliating against her for reporting that discrimination. According to the suit, the company substantially underpays its female executives compared to its male executives, resulting in a potentially illegal pay disparity that is not justified by experience, training, or other qualifications. She also claims Trustly has a misogynistic “tech-bro” culture that undervalues women generally, and creates a hostile work environment for women in the company.
What Law Was Potentially Violated?
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects the right of people to work without being discriminated against on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, or national origin. This also protects employees from being retaliated against for reporting unlawful discriminatory conduct. If convicted, violators can be forced to pay compensatory damages for discriminatory conduct, as well as punitive damages in cases where discrimination was especially malicious or reckless.
What Should You Do if This Happens to You?
If you have faced sex discrimination by your employer, or you were punished for reporting unlawful discrimination, you should speak to a lawyer with experience handling employment law claims. They can assist you with your case, and help you get the best possible outcome. The sooner you call, the sooner they can get to work for you.
Steven Mitchell Sack, the Employee’s Lawyer, is a New York employment lawyer with more than 44 years’ experience handling the many aspects of employment law. His new book, “Fired!: Protect Your Rights & FIGHT BACK If You’re Terminated, Laid Off, Downsized, Restructured, Forced to Resign or Quit,” is available in hardback, and contains valuable advice on dealing with employment and labor law issues. To purchase the book, feel free to contact Steven Sack at 917-371-8000 or visit the website at legalstratpub.com. To inquire about a legal matter, please feel free to contact attorney Steven Sack at 917-371-8000 or stevensackatty@hotmail.com.
