Szabolcs Fekete, a former financial analyst at Citibank, has lost his wrongful dismissal lawsuit in a London court. The ex-analyst was dismissed for gross misconduct over dishonest expense claims made during a business trip to Amsterdam in July 2022. The court upheld Citibank's decision, emphasizing that Fekete's dismissal was due to allegations of dishonesty and misrepresentation rather than the amount of money spent.
Fekete had been with Citibank for seven years prior to his dismissal. The issue arose when Fekete initially claimed he had consumed two sandwiches, two pasta dishes, and two coffees alone during his business trip, which fell within the bank's 100 euros daily allowance. However, he later confessed to sharing the meals with his partner, which violated Citibank’s expense management policy that doesn't cover spousal meals.
An email exchange between Fekete and his manager revealed him questioning the need to justify his eating habits. Despite respecting the company's 100 euro expense limit, Fekete's initial dishonesty about the expenses led to his dismissal.
In defense, Fekete contended that his misleading statements were influenced by personal issues and medication use. He disclosed personal struggles following his grandmother's death and medical leave. However, Employment Judge Caroline Illing ruled in favor of Citibank, emphasizing Fekete's lack of transparency and evasive responses during the investigation.
Citibank expressed satisfaction with the court's decision. A spokesperson for the bank reinforced the importance of integrity in expense claims, asserting that such a dismissal would be a reasonable action by any employer.
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