Claiming he was improperly terminated, a former Arab-American employee at PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Tampa office has sued the company for discrimination.
The 37-year-old worker was allegedly fired after he told an internal newspaper there was “room for improvement” with the company’s diversity practices.
In his lawsuit, the plaintiff claims he was given a performance note from the company several days after he made the comments, which criticized how he treated subordinates. The worker also alleges the firm ignored his recommendation to hire another Muslim worker who wore a head scarf. The worker was fired in July 2009, when he thought he was on track to become a partner, and had won an award only five years prior.
“What happened to me should not happen to any other person,” the worker told the St. Petersburg Times. “They’ve gone out of their way to destroy my life. I am suing so no one else will have to feel my pain.”
The plaintiff is seeking reinstatement to his former job, back pay for wages lost and damages for his emotional distress.
The case highlights the importance of companies avoiding potentially discriminatory practices, as any perceived actions may result in expensive professional liability lawsuits that damage their reputation.
