Employee who says she was sacked while on sick leave after miscarriage sues Swiss private bank in Hong Kong for HK$1.37 million
- In a writ, Eleanor Marie Coleman accused former supervisor at Bank J. Safra Sarasin of making distressing comments about her pregnancy and family life
A former Hong Kong employee is suing a leading Swiss private bank for more than HK$1.37 million (US$175,650) after she was fired while on sick leave following a miscarriage.
In a writ filed to the District Court on Wednesday, Eleanor Marie Coleman accused her former supervisor at the Hong Kong branch of Bank J. Safra Sarasin of making distressing comments about her pregnancy and family life.
The document made available on Thursday also claimed Coleman was given a termination letter and asked to sign her resignation while she was on sick leave certified by a hospital, or she would not get another job or Monetary Authority licence.
Her lawyers said such acts were unlawful under Hong Kong’s Sex Discrimination Ordinance and Disability Discrimination Ordinance.
Coleman is seeking HK$1.12 million in lost income plus HK$250,000 as compensation for the injury to her feelings and another unspecified sum for punitive or exemplary damages.
She is also seeking an apology from the bank, on top of a court order for the company to implement anti-discrimination awareness training for all senior staff and directors.
