Bank Employee Claims He Was Denied Promotion Because He’s Heterosexual

The Federal Court of Canada ruled in favor of a male employee for the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce who said his boss informed him he had “no hope” for promotion unless he joined a “group” of gay and bisexual men. The employee, Aaren Jagadeesh, who is heterosexual, filed a discrimination complaint in April 2017, but the Canadian Human Rights Commission dismissed the complaint in November 2018, writing, “Before rendering the decision, the Commission reviewed the report disclosed to you previously and any submission(s) filed in response to the report. After examining this information, the Commission decided … to dismiss the complaint because, having regard to all of the circumstances of the complaint, further inquiry is not warranted.”

But the Federal Court has ordered a new investigation and assessment.

The National Post reports, “An investigator with the human rights commission was assigned to look into the complaint. CIBC officials were interviewed — but not the manager who allegedly made the remarks about only gay and bisexual men being promoted. That manager, the investigator was told, was on ‘extended leave of absence.’”

Jagadeesh was employed by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in Toronto as a financial services representative. He claims he was repeatedly turned down for promotions. Jagadeesh said he met alone with his manager on Sept. 15, 2015, and the manager said every male manager in the office was was gay or bisexual, and followed by informing him of his zero chances for promotion unless he joined the group.

The National Post adds, “Jagadeesh claims the manager said this was why young male employees with little or no qualifications were promoted; told him to ‘be smart and learn’; and then allegedly asked Jagadeesh what he thought of him.” According to Jagadeesh, he told his boss that he simply viewed him as his manager, that he had no problem working with anyone, and that he was heterosexual. (Read more from “Bank Employee Claims He Was Denied Promotion Because He’s Heterosexual” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE