Following on from the news that discrimination compensation payments rose again last year, a new case has dwarfed those awards with a massive £1.5 million payout. Julie Bower, formerly an analyst at Schroder Securities, claimed that she had unfair treatment and dismissal, and the Tribunal has ruled that this was in part because she is a woman. At one point she is reported to have received a bonus of £25,000 while a male counterpart got £650,000 for comparable work. The award is a record, and takes into consideration lost earnings and pension contributions since her dismissal.

The company has already appealed against the initial fidings on liability, and is considering appealing this decision as well.