A former employee of India’s third largest IT services firm Wipro, has sued the company for a compensation of around £1 million, in a case of sexual discrimination, unequal pay and unfair dismissal.
Shreya Ukil, 39, who worked in the Bengaluru-based company’s London office alleged that she was subjected to a “deeply predatory, misogynistic culture.”
She also accused Wipro of sex discrimination, unequal pay, harassment and unfair dismissal. “The culture within Wipro requires women to be subservient,” she said.
In a sexual discrimination and equal pay claim filed at the central London employment tribunal, she alleged that she was manipulated into an affair with married former senior vice-president and Global BPO head, Manoj Punja.
Manoj Punja, who resigned from the company, is currently the Executive Vice President of Microland Limited based in the US. Prior to this he was the Chief Executive and Senior Vice President BPO Business at Wipro Technologies. He was also the Senior Vice President and Head - Focus Markets and Head - Global Sales Operations till 2012.
Ms. Ukil, who was working as the sales and market development manager, also said that she was treated like “dirty goods” after ending the affair and lodging complaints about her treatment.
Company reponds :
Commenting on the reports, Wipro in a statement said: “Wipro Ltd does not comment on its ongoing lawsuits. Wipro’s policy on conflict of interest requires employees to disclose to the organization any personal relationship that could create conflict. Failure to disclose such relationships would result in disciplinary action including and up to separation. Following an impartial inquiry, both Manoj Punja and Shreya Ukil were relieved from the services of the company, after it was established beyond reasonable doubt that they had violated the stated policy.”
Further the company said, “Wipro takes serious objection to the scurrilous allegations made against the company and will initiate legal action to defend itself against insidious and defamatory allegations.”
