Deloitte denies failing to shield ex-employee from bullying

DELOITTE has denied that it failed to protect a former female employee from being bullied by one of its male partners after a romantic relationship between the pair ended.

Katrina Jones, who joined the “big four” accounting and consulting firm in 2015, said in court documents last year that she now suffers from mental health problems after the “harassment and bullying” behaviour of Christopher Holliday.

She alleged that Deloitte failed to stop Mr Holliday’s aggressive behaviour towards her and did not properly monitor her mental health.

However, in its defence filed in the High Court last month, Deloitte denied that it had “unreasonably failed to take steps to stop [Mr] Holliday’s behaviour”.

The firm also outlined a potential legal argument over the extent of an

‘The majority of the conduct complained of took place away from work and in a personal relationship’

employers’ duties towards staff who enter into romantic relationships with more senior colleagues.

Deloitte said that even if Ms Jones succeeded in proving Mr Holliday had harassed or bullied her, the firm should not be held liable because such behaviour was not carried out “in the course of his employment”.

The defence, which was reported by the Financial Times, said: “The majority of the conduct complained of took place away from work and in the context of a personal relationship between autonomous adults.”

Ms Jones claimed that Mr Holliday’s behaviour was characterised by “bouts of anger and rage” towards her and that he took advantage of the vulnerable state she was in due to her marriage.

She alleged that Mr Holliday forced her to stay out after work and go drinking.

In one incident, Mr Holliday allegedly repeatedly slammed the bathroom door on Ms Jones’s arm during an argument, leaving her “badly bruised”, according to court documents.

Deloitte said it had supported Ms Jones, including through its employee relations department and by funding counselling and psychiatric treatment.

Mr Holliday, who is not a defendant in the case, could not be reached for comment.

Deloitte declined to comment.