Goldman Sachs vs. Employee: Manager Sues Bank for Being Fired After 6-Month Paternity Leave
A former manager at Goldman Sachs, Jonathan Reeves, has filed a £3.8 million ($5 million) sex-discrimination claim against the investment bank, alleging wrongful termination after taking six months of paternity leave. Reeves, a vice president in the compliance department in London, contends that he was laid off shortly after returning from leave in 2022.
Goldman Sachs denies the allegations, asserting that Reeves was terminated due to performance issues that predated his leave. However, Reeves claims that the real motivation for his firing was the bank’s negative attitude toward male employees taking extended parental leave. His lawyers argued in court documents that he witnessed senior management displaying disapproval towards male employees who utilized parental leave and faced childcare challenges.
Reeves alleges that he was informed shortly before his return that his job was at risk, a situation he had never encountered in his 15-year career. He was ultimately dismissed less than five weeks later, an outcome his lawyers argue would not have occurred for a female employee in a similar position.
In response to the lawsuit, Goldman Sachs highlighted its policy of offering 26 weeks of paid parental leave to all new parents since 2019 and encouraged employees to take advantage of it. The bank’s spokesperson emphasized that Reeves’ performance issues were assessed objectively against both male and female colleagues.
The bank’s legal team also noted that after Reeves was dismissed, they discovered he had committed a serious breach by covertly recording conversations and meetings during his tenure.
Reeves’ claim seeks compensation for lost earnings, retirement contributions, and the stigma associated with his firing, which he argues has hindered his subsequent job applications.
