A former Raymond James VP accused supervisors on the agency of firing her after she raised sexual harassment issues to them, in keeping with a criticism filed in Florida federal courtroom.

Joena Bartolini Mitchell filed her request for a jury trial earlier this week, arguing that she’d “witnessed and was the goal of quite a few cases of sexual harassment,” throughout her 15-year tenure at Raymond James, in keeping with the criticism. 

She described how, after sending her direct supervisor articles detailing how sexism and discrimination can come up within the office, she was “systematically stripped” of her duties and suspended for allegedly violating firm insurance policies on transmitting privileged data, earlier than later being fired.

“The unlucky actuality is that (Raymond James’) conduct in the direction of Ms. Bartolini Mitchell is just not a one-off or distinctive scenario,” the criticism learn. “On the contrary, it’s solely in line with a established order of silencing girls who get up in opposition to (Raymond James’) discriminatory tradition.”

Working out of Raymond James’ St. Petersburg, Fla. workplace from 2006 till her termination in 2022, Bartolini Mitchell began within the due diligence division earlier than changing into a VP, Administration & Danger for the corporate’s RIA & Custody Companies, in keeping with the criticism (she was additionally a co-chair for the agency’s Non-public Shopper Group Range and Inclusion committee).

Bartolini Mitchell argued she additionally skilled disquieting criticism she doubted could be confronted by a person in her place. In line with the submitting, Head of RIA & Custody Companies Gregory Bruce repeatedly categorized her as “too aggressive,” demanding she “discuss much less and hear extra” and that she could be a greater worker if she’d “soften” her picture to “be extra approachable.” She additionally needed to “endure teaching within the areas of voice, tone, expressions and pleasantries in emails, as if she had been a magnificence pageant contestant,” in keeping with the criticism. 

When she informed others, she acquired sympathetic eye rolls and laughs, in addition to feminine co-workers who had heard the identical factor, and that “that’s simply how it’s” for feminine staff at Raymond James.” The previous rep additionally claimed Bruce withheld a promotion from her due to her gender, once more claiming she was “too aggressive.”

Within the criticism, she detailed a complete of 12 cases of sexual harassment she skilled or witnessed.

In a single case in 2015, when driving a bunch of economic advisors to a lodge, certainly one of them threw a $50 invoice at Bartolini Mitchell and later “sexually propositioned” her feminine boss, in keeping with the criticism. That very same 12 months, Bartolini Mitchell had dinner with two male purchasers, with one describing how he waxed his pubic hair and demanding he drive her house (Bartolini Mitchell hid behind a dumpster on the restaurant till the shopper left, in keeping with the criticism). 

In 2012, after Bartolini Mitchell complimented a co-worker’s belt, the male colleague allegedly stood up, took off the belt and gave it to her, whereas different males on the desk joked that the person was “planning to take off his pants” for Bartolini Mitchell, who was “humiliated” by the expertise. A number of years earlier, a male Raymond James government invited her to glad hour with different colleagues, however when she arrived solely the manager was there, in keeping with the criticism.

“He insisted that he stroll Ms. Bartolini Mitchell again to her lodge and upstairs to her room. The male government endured regardless of Ms. Bartolini Mitchell’s repeated refusals,” the criticism learn (Bartolini Mitchell escaped the scenario by bringing him to a foyer of a unique lodge and claiming she wanted to name her mom).

In 2022, Bartolini Mitchell addressed the difficulty with Bruce by forwarding him a number of articles and supplies about sexism within the office, together with a New York Instances piece entitled “Why Ladies Aren’t CEOs, In line with Ladies Who Virtually Have been.” Bruce disputed that he was being sexist, in keeping with the criticism.

By September, the agency eliminated obligations from Bartolini Mitchell, together with barring her from getting ready for or attending finances evaluations and never inviting her to interview management place candidates. She additionally alleged the agency employed two senior vice presidents that month, certainly one of whom took over “roughly 70%” of Bartolini Mitchell’s obligations.

On Oct. 3, the agency suspended Bartolini Mitchell; in keeping with the criticism, the agency accused her of sending business-related materials from her work to a private e-mail deal with. However Bartolini Mitchell mentioned the transfer was unintended and that she by no means disclosed it to others, nor was it compromised. She additionally argued it was widespread for Raymond James staff to make use of private emails when conducting enterprise.

In late November, Bartolini Mitchell filed a discrimination and retaliation cost in opposition to the agency with the EEOC. Bruce fired her the next day, citing the errant emails because the trigger (regardless of her protests that the firing was discriminatory). The agency additionally notified FINRA concerning the particulars of her firing, which is public on her BrokerCheck profile; Bartolini Mitchell mentioned the transfer was “probably deadly” to her profession within the trade.

Bartolini Mitchell’s attorneys didn’t reply to requests for remark, nor did Raymond James.

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