Former Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce executive, Zhuofang Wei, has lost a case against the bank over alleged sex and race discrimination in the context of a proposed relocation from London to Luxembourg.

However, the employment tribunal found that the bank’s decision to bring forward Wei’s redundancy from 31 March 2020 and to instead dismiss her with immediate effect on 20 March 2020, victimised the claimant.

Wei brought a employment tribunal case against the CIBC in 2020 over ‘direct discrimination related to sex and/or race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, harassment and/or victimisation.’

According to the claim, Wei, of mainland China origin, was not afforded the same salary negotiation options as her Caucasian male colleagues over the move to Luxembourg.

When Wei informed the CIBC in January 2020 that she was interested in the Luxembourg role, but the salary did not work for her, the Luxembourg offer was withdrawn, and she was simultaneously made redundant from her London-based position.

It was also claimed that the Toronto-headquartered bank failed to deregister Wei from the Luxembourg regulator CSSF until 31 March 2020, exposing her to additional risks and liabilities. This claim was not upheld by the tribunal.

The tribunal took place in May 2022 and a remedy hearing is scheduled for 11 October 2022.