How Citigroup's New York unit became a picture of persistent harassment, discrimination and drugs

livemint.com:

Citigroup Inc. were partying with clients one night in May 2018 at a downtown Manhattan hot spot called Catch. One of them, a recent college grad, had landed in the equities division for her two-year rotational program at the bank and had brought her roommate along to the party.

As the evening progressed, one of the unit’s bosses came up behind the roommate and surprised her by grinding his crotch against her, according to two people who said they saw him. Months later, that rotator said, a male trader told her to wear shorter skirts and higher heels to work and made multiple inquiries into her love life. Interviews with 22 people who worked in or closely with the equities division suggest the incidents weren't an aberration, painting a picture of persistent harassment and discrimination at Citigroup's equities unit in New York, which advises on and executes trades for top hedge funds and other Wall Street players.

The accounts echo allegations in a lawsuit filed last year by a managing director who claims such conduct continued until as recently as 2022. After the lawsuit hit, the firm encouraged staff to speak up if they observed misconduct. Over at least a decade, employees openly ogled female colleagues, rated them by their looks and bragged about their sexual conquests, according to the interviews with the workers, who asked for anonymity because of concerns about retaliation.

Boorish behaviour at the division included the use of cocaine in the office, they said. Complaints to senior executives and human resources didn't lead to change, fueling the perception of an insulated in-crowd and prompting several employees to leave while some alleged perpetrators remain, the people said. Citigroup, which three years ago