(USA Today) - A financial analyst who was fired by Citibank for allegedly lying about meal expenses lost a wrongful dismissal lawsuit filed in a London court against the large bank.
Former analyst Szabolcs Fekete sued Citibank last year after he was fired for gross misconduct when he claimed he was the only one who consumed two coffees, two sandwiches, and two pasta dishes during a work trip to Amsterdam.
According to court documents, when Fekete was asked about the expenses in an email in July 2022, he said he had "checked the receipt and did not see anything out of order… I was on the business trip by myself and I had 2 coffees as they were very small."
Fekete later admitted his partner, who was not a Citibank employee, was on the trip with him and shared the meals with him.
He added that he was well within the company's 100 euro expense limit and doesn't think he has to "justify" his eating habits to "this extent.”
The financial analyst claimed he was going through personal issues and was on strong medications when he sent the emails.
Judge's ruling not about the amount of money
Employment Judge Caroline Illing ruled in favor of Citibank last month. Illing said the dismissal was fair because Fekete was not initially honest about the expenses.
"In considering the substantial merits of this case, I have found that this case is not about the sums of money involved," Illing said.
"It is significant that the claimant did not make a full and frank disclosure at the first opportunity and that he did not answer questions directly."
Illing said the bank “requires a commitment to honesty from its employees.”
“I have accepted that the expense report may have been submitted in error,” the judge said. “However, I am satisfied that a dismissal in relation to the misrepresentation allegation alone would fall within the band of a reasonable response by a reasonable employer.”
In a statement to USA TODAY a Citibank spokesperson said the company was "pleased with the decision."
By Sarah Al-Arshani | USA TODAY
