According to this former Citigroup employee, when her good looks became too much for her managers to deal with, they simply showed her the door.
Here’s the back story:
Debrahlee Lorenzana was working at Citigroup’s Chrysler building as a business banker — providing services for small businesses — when the problem started.
Lorenzana says she was called into a meeting with several managers and ordered to stop wearing turtlenecks, pencil skirts and fitted suits that were drawing too much attention in the workplace from male managers that were “easily distracted.”
Despite management’s request, Lorenzana insists she “never flashed too much skin and dressed professionally, not provocatively.”
At some point after the meeting, Lorenzana filed sexual harassment complaints. She was then moved to Citigroup’s Rockefeller Center branch where she wasn’t able to land new clients — a move Lorenzana claims is retaliation for her sexual harassment complaints. A month after being transferred to Rockefeller Center, she was fired.
A recent Village Voice story posted pictures of Lorenzana’s work attire and asked readers to vote on whether or not they thought her wardrobe was “too sexy.” Eighty-eight percent of those who voted said no.
Citigroup in turn released the following statement:
“Ms. Lorenzana has chosen to make numerous unfounded accusations and inaccurate statements against Citibank and several of our employees. While we will not discuss the details of her case, we can say that her termination was solely performance-based and not at all related to her appearance or attire. We are confident that when all of the facts and documentation are presented, the claim will be dismissed.”
We’ll keep you posted on this case.
