Former HBOS worker ‘forced out by harassment’

A former manager at financial services provider HBOS has told an employment tribunal that she was forced out of her position due to the “harassing and laddish culture” she experienced from her colleagues while working there.

Haley Tansey is now looking to sue the bank for over £600,000 after claiming she put up with the behaviour for several years.

On one occasion, the 39-year-old stated that a fellow manager was able to trick his way into her hotel room by telling the night porter he was her boyfriend before taking his clothes off.

Ms Tansey, who is a married mother-of-one, noted that she was also the subject of suggestive comments, including one worker who said he liked it when she leant over her desk as he got a “good eyeful”.

On another occasion she was taken to a lap dancing bar, she claimed.

“Some of the people I was with were almost embarrassing in their eagerness to start paying for [lap] dancers. The whole atmosphere revolted me and I said so. I was told not to be so puritanical,” she told the employment tribunal.

Ms Tansey is suing on the grounds of loss of earnings and hurt feelings due to discrimination, sexual harassment and constructive dismissal.

A spokesperson for HBOS denied the bank demonstrated “laddish culture”.