Bridgeport, Connecticut-based People’s United Bank has agreed to settle an employee lawsuit that had alleged a wide range of discriminatory actions against executives in the bank’s Massachusetts market.

In a court filing Wednesday, first reported by Law360 and the Boston Business Journal, all parties involved said they had agreed to dismiss the case. The terms of the settlement were not provided.

The original lawsuit was filed in July 2020 and had alleged discrimination based on race, religion, gender, age and sexual orientation. It also claimed that the bank had retaliated against employees for complaining about discriminatory behavior and a toxic workplace.

Those accused in the lawsuit include Anna Greener, the retail director and senior vice president for growth, and Patrick Sullivan, the Massachusetts market president.

Four of the employees involved in the lawsuit had left People’s United before the complaint was filed in federal court in July 2020. One of the plaintiffs, Renee Welch, continues to work as a branch manager at People’s United Bank, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Jason DeMello, another former employee who was part of the original lawsuit, was removed from the complaint last year in a procedural decision by the judge.

People’s United has $64 billion in assets and more than 60 branches across Massachusetts. The bank continues to wait for regulatory approval to be acquired by Buffalo-based M&T Bank in a deal that was announced more than a year ago. Earlier this week, M&T Bank CEO René Jones said he remained committed to the merger.

People’s United Settles Employees’ Discrimination Lawsuit

by Diane McLaughlin time to read: 1 min
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