One
of the largest ever age discrimination claims has been filed against UK fund
manager Schroders.
The
company has been hit with a multi-million dollar lawsuit by former top
executive Sharon Haugh, 56, who lost her job as the chairman of Schroders’
North American subsidiary in May.
Ten
days before her sacking, Haugh received an award for outstanding contributions
to the industry.
Haugh,
who had worked for Schroders for 20 years, claims that chief executive Michael
Dobson sacked her "solely based on her age". Her suit claims Dobson
said he "wanted someone younger".
Haugh’s
suit also claims there is a pattern of age discrimination at Schroders.
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Commentators
claim UK companies, which are not yet subject to domestic anti-age
discrimination laws, often trip-up over US labour customs.