A £500,000-a-year city broker who claimed he was bullied by his company has lost an unfair dismissal lawsuit after a judge ruled he ‘gave at least as good as he got’.
Robert Bou-Simon, who was employed by BGC Partners in Canary Wharf, was not the sole victim of the abuse, employment tribunal Judge Bernice Elgot said.
The Australian, former head of the basis swaps desk, said he was mocked when he refused to take part in an initiation ritual called ‘The Run’ where brokers are covered in water after making their first trade, according to a report in Bloomberg.
He claimed insulting instant messages about him were exchanged between colleagues, including one message which said: “I’m going to destroy Bob.”
But Judge Elgot said because desk revenue fell under Mr Bou-Simon’s leadership he “exposed himself to a lack of respect in this particular working culture.”
The court heard the broker also took part in sending insulting and offensive messages on the instant message system.
Mr Bou-Simon previously worked for BGC from 2000 to 2005 and returned to the company on a £500,000 salary. But this was halved to £250,000 because he failed to live up to a promise he would “turn one million dollars a month.”
The tribunal took place in May at the East London Hearing Centre and the ruling released last week.
BGC Partners were contacted for a comment.
