City high-flyer loses sexism case

Katharina Tofeji, 38, alleged BNP Paribas, one of Europe's biggest banks, refused to grant her a four-day working week after she returned from a year's maternity leave that started in May 2005.

She quit her £70,000-a-year job as a sales dealer at the bank's London operation, where she had worked since 2000, claiming sexual discrimination, unfair dismissal and breaches of maternity and flexible-working conditions.

During the Central London tribunal, Miss Tofeji claimed her bosses said it would be a good idea to 'get a little bit closer' to a client over a candlelit dinner, while another colleague allegedly said he could imagine her in a tiny bikini.

But the tribunal unanimously dismissed her claims, ruling that she was not wrongfully dismissed and was not treated less favourably than male colleagues.

It ruled that BNP Paribas "did not breach requirements by allegedly failing to allow the claimant to return to the job in which she was employed before her absence on maternity leave or to another suitable and appropriate job".

Austrian-born Miss Tofeji had described a 'sexist culture' at the bank and claimed she experienced "unfair treatment" immediately after she announced she was pregnant in November 2004.

The bank said in a statement: "BNP Paribas regrets that the publicity surrounding the case could have impacted adversely on the individual reputations of some of its current and former staff and hopes that the tribunal's findings have set the record straight.

"BNP Paribas recognises its employees as a valuable resource and welcomes and fully supports its staff returning to work after maternity leave. It is committed to equal opportunities."

Miss Tofeji, from Brentwood, Essex, said: "I am very disappointed with the judgment. This has been a very difficult time for me.

"I would like to say thank you to all those people who have sent messages of support throughout this time."

Her solicitor, Samantha Mangwana, said: "This judgment is a missed opportunity to deal with the widespread sex discrimination in the City that still persists.

'We will be reviewing the decision in order to determine whether we will be appealing, particularly considering that very strong evidence was presented in the case.'