An African- American female executive of behemoth real estate company Cushman & Wakefield has filed suit claiming race and gender discrimination. In the suit, Plaintiff Nicole Urquhart- Bradley, alleges that she was used as merely a “face for workplace diversity,” but often faced unequal treatment to that of her counterparts.
After working for Cushman for over a decade as an executive overseeing the Americas, Urquhart- Bradley was terminated in January. Her complaint alleges that Cushman & Wakefield promotes an environment where women and minorities are treated significantly different than white males. Plaintiff claims she – along with other women on the company’s management team – have faced resistance from senior management when applying for upper- level management positions. This resistance has led to significant limitations of upward advancement, especially for women of color.
Plaintiff’s complaint further alleges that despite an above- average record of performance throughout her tenure with Cushman, she was unlawfully terminated in January of 2018 on the basis of her gender and race. She did receive a promotion in 2016, but her attorneys argue she did not receive the same title as her white- male predecessor. The complaint says Plaintiff was given a “lesser title” which further shows disparate treatment on the basis of her race and gender.
Attorneys for Plaintiff rightfully note that in the wake of the #MeToo Movement, the world has a heightened sensitivity to sexual harassment in the workplace, but gender bias and discrimination is still pervasive, especially in male-dominated fields. Plaintiff says in the complaint that there was a noticeable dichotomy between white males in management positions and women, especially women of color, and she was unlawfully terminated as a result of the company’s aim to give preferential treatment to white males.
Gender bias and race discrimination are unlawful. If you or someone you know have been a victim of such conduct in the workplace, our experienced attorneys at the Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC have years of experience handling claims of discrimination based on sex, gender, and race. Together with our Miami and Philadelphia attorneys, we have been awarded six-figure settlements on behalf of our clients. If you feel like you have been discriminated against in the workplace, please give our attorneys a call, at 1-877-4NYLAWS, for your free consultation.
