LPL acknowledged that Beaufort, during the years she has been with the broker-dealer, filed complaints with LPL’s human resources department and that she filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in March. However, LPL denied the allegations made by Beaufort. LPL said the notice to LPL was not made quickly enough and the claims do not fit the definition of discrimination established by the EEOC.
LPL said Beaufort “was not treated less favorably than any similarly situated employee” and that her treatment “was at all times based on factors other than plaintiff’s race or sex.”
The claims are unfounded because LPL at all times “enforced a clear policy against harassment establishing reasonable and effective means of reporting and seeking relief from conduct believed to be harassing and because LPL acted in accordance with this policy,” the company claimed.
The attorneys for both sides did not return calls for comment as of publication time.