Discrimination case could cost HBOS £16.7 million

by Gill Montia

Story link: Discrimination case could cost HBOS £16.7 million

A former HBOS employee is claiming damages of £16.7 million from the bank as compensation for alleged sexual, racial and religious discrimination suffered at the hands of her colleagues.

Mona Awad, who is a Muslim, claims she began suffering insults about her race and religion shortly after joining the Nottingham branch of HBOS as a corporate banking manager, in April 2007.

The position commanded a salary of £40,000 year but Mrs Awad alleges she was the butt of demeaning suggestions while at work, such as her career progress being supported by sexual favours.

Colleagues apparently mocked her observance of Ramadan and one is alleged to have said he did not want to work with Asians.

According to Mrs Awad, her transfer to the bank’s Derby branch left her exposed to further harassment by a boss who publicly suggested she was having a sexual relationship with the employee of a customer.

The level of compensation sought is based on a percentage of the bank’s gross turnover over the period during which the alleged discrimination took place and a preliminary hearing of the case is scheduled for Wednesday of this week, in Nottingham.