On April 3, 2025, a complaint was filed in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, by Sylvia McCleary against Wipro Limited and its affiliates. The lawsuit accuses the company of wrongful termination based on discrimination and harassment, alleging violations of the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and other related laws.
Sylvia McCleary, a former Director of Partnership at Wipro Limited, claims she was subjected to a hostile work environment characterized by gender and racial discrimination. McCleary alleges that from her employment start in April 2021 until her termination in April 2023, she faced numerous discriminatory practices. According to the complaint, McCleary was often excluded from critical discussions and decisions due to her gender and British nationality. She recounts instances where her male colleagues were favored for promotions despite her qualifications and performance. One notable incident involved Vipin Ahuja being appointed as Director of Partnerships over McCleary, allegedly due to his Indian descent rather than merit.
The complaint further details how McCleary's efforts to address these issues internally were met with retaliation rather than resolution. In October 2022, she was placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP), which she argues was unjustified given her consistent achievement of business goals. The lawsuit describes how this PIP was part of a broader strategy by senior management to marginalize her role within the company.
McCleary's legal action seeks various forms of relief from the court. She is pursuing economic damages for lost wages and benefits due to what she describes as an unlawful termination motivated by discriminatory practices. Additionally, McCleary seeks non-economic damages for emotional distress caused by the alleged hostile work environment and retaliatory actions taken against her. The lawsuit also demands punitive damages against Wipro Limited for what it characterizes as willful misconduct that disregarded her rights under state law.
Representing Sylvia McCleary in this case are attorneys from Shegerian & Associates, Inc., including Beheshta Kakar Esq., who have outlined multiple causes of action ranging from failure to prevent discrimination to intentional infliction of emotional distress. The case has been assigned Case No: CGC-25-624017 in the Superior Court of California for the County of San Francisco.