Bloomberg's Paige Smith and Max Abelson reveal a pattern of harassment and discrimination at Citigroup's equities division. They discuss the impact on employees and business, historical treatment of harassment in banking, and the fear of speaking out against misconduct on Wall Street.
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Quick takeaways
Citigroup's equities division exhibited a pattern of harassment and discrimination, revealing cultural issues within the organization.
The toxic culture at Citigroup impacted business results and reputation, influencing performance relative to industry competitors.
Deep dives
Citigroup Lawsuit Revelations
In November of 2023, a lawsuit filed by Citigroup executive, Artith Lindsey, accused the bank of fostering a culture of harassment and discrimination within its equities unit. This legal action shed light on the alleged issues within Citigroup's culture, prompting deeper investigation to understand the extent and longevity of such behaviors.
Pattern of Misconduct Uncovered
Through interviews with numerous individuals associated with Citigroup's equities division, reports revealed a pattern of dysfunctional and inappropriate behavior. Specific instances, such as at a client party in 2018 where harassment was witnessed by multiple employees, highlighted a culture of tolerance for misconduct, including drug use and objectification of female colleagues.
Culture and Business Impact
The toxic culture within the equities division of Citigroup not only raised concerns about workplace behavior but also had broader business implications. Reports indicated that the culture of harassment and misconduct may have contributed to business problems, impacting the performance and reputation of the bank's equities business in comparison to its rivals in the industry.
Citigroup was the first major Wall Street bank with a female CEO. But interviews with 22 people who worked in or closely with the bank’s equities division suggest a pattern of harassment and discrimination.
Bloomberg’s Paige Smith and Max Abelson join The Big Take podcast to share what their reporting uncovered, and what it says about the rest of Wall Street’s overdue #MeToo reckoning.