Trader loses discrimination case

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A City trader who claimed a sexist work culture forced her out of one of Europe's biggest banks has lost her £1.3m compensation claim.

Katharina Tofeji, 38, claimed BNP Paribas refused to grant her a four-day working week following maternity leave.

But an employment tribunal in central London ruled she was not wrongfully dismissed and not treated less favourably than her male colleagues.

Ms Tofeji, from Brentwood, Essex, had worked in the foreign exchange unit.

She had described a sexist culture at the bank and claimed she experienced unfair treatment immediately after announcing she was pregnant in November 2004.

Ms Tofeji quit the bank's London operation, where she had worked since 2000, claiming sexual discrimination, unfair dismissal and breaches of maternity and flexible working conditions.

But the tribunal ruled that BNP Paribas "did not breach requirements... by allegedly failing to allow the claimant to return to the job in which she was employed before her absence on maternity leave or to another suitable and appropriate job".

Ms Tofeji's solicitor, Samantha Mangwana, said: "This judgment is a missed opportunity to deal with the widespread sex discrimination in the City that still persists."

Ms Tofeji said tonight: "I am very disappointed with the judgment. This has been a very difficult time for me."

Her legal team are reviewing the decision to determine whether to lodge an appeal.