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The legal complaint outlines a series of incidents beginning in June 2022, when Larson alleges his manager, Peter Bergman, confronted him during a virtual meeting regarding his participation in PRIDE Tri-State. According to the filing, Bergman instructed Larson to keep his “gay job separate from his day job,” questioning whether his volunteer work for the organization interfered with his primary responsibilities on the Growth Segments team. Larson maintains that he consistently worked 60 to 70 hours per week and that his contributions to the employee group were encouraged by the bank’s broader diversity, equity, and inclusion leadership.
Allegations of Retaliation and Forced Resignation
Larson’s lawsuit asserts that after he raised concerns about his supervisor’s conduct, he faced professional retaliation. He claims that he was removed from specific projects and that his performance ratings were downgraded from “exceeds expectations” to “on track.” Furthermore, the complaint alleges that a former supervisor warned him against escalating the matter to human resources, suggesting that such actions rarely result in favorable outcomes for the employee.
The situation reportedly reached a breaking point in October 2023, when HR questioned Larson regarding approximately $40 in Uber expenses related to his attendance at Pride-related events. Although Larson stated that his manager had previously approved the expenses, he claims he was subsequently summoned to a meeting where his integrity was questioned. Four days later, Larson alleges he was presented with an ultimatum: resign immediately or face termination. He claims that an HR representative oversaw his resignation process, during which he was warned that a formal termination would negatively impact his future employment prospects.
Health Impacts and Bank Response
The lawsuit details significant physical and mental health challenges that Larson attributes to the workplace environment. He reports suffering from panic attacks, severe anxiety, depression, and chronic migraines. Additionally, the complaint notes the recurrence of trichotillomania, a condition involving the urge to pull out one's hair, which Larson states had not affected him since childhood. He claims the stress led to visible hair loss and significant weight gain.
In response to the filing, a spokesperson for JPMorgan Chase denied the allegations of discrimination and retaliation. The bank stated that it conducted a thorough internal investigation into the matter and found no evidence to support Larson’s claims. Furthermore, the bank asserted that multiple managers had previously identified performance concerns regarding Larson and had provided him with coaching to address those specific issues.
