Documented Incidents and Allegations
Workplace Bullying (2021)
Leonie Soul allegedly made a new starter cry. She was this employee's senior and this was witnessed by multiple staff members.
Exploitation of Bereavement
An employee at Intact lost their father and had to take time off work. Ashley McGhee and Ann Owen allegedly used this bereavement time to mistreat this employee, a woman of colour. They allegedly used the bereavement to justify paying this employee less than white male counterparts with less tenure and experience, and to justify not providing fair salary increases over a year later.
This abusive tactic allegedly caused the employee to have multiple mental breakdowns at work, which Ann Owen then attempted to use as grounds for termination.
Religious Discrimination
Leonie Soul allegedly often cited without prompt her ex-boyfriend's religion whilst calling him a devil.
Workplace Harassment and Racial Discrimination
Multiple incidents alleged including:
- Leonie Soul shouting at employee in front of colleagues
- Leonie Soul admitting to treating colleague of colour worse
- Work avoidance allegations while passing work to team members
- Manipulating statistics
Gender-Based Assault
Employee was allegedly assaulted by male staff member. Reported to Ashley McGhee who allegedly hid the facts and refused to cooperate with police investigations.
Inappropriate Personal Disclosures
Ashley McGhee allegedly inappropriately disclosed personal information to employee including unprompted disclosure of his partner cheating on him, during which he became out of breath from crying.
Discriminatory Treatment - Work Trips
Ashley McGhee allegedly offered all-expenses-paid work trips to white male staff members only, hiding this from people of colour and female staff members. This action was allegedly supported by Dermot Hillen, Margaret McAllister, Ann Owen, Audra Duncan, and Intact Insurance.
Mental Health Discrimination
Ann Owen allegedly showed disregard for employee mental health, including when employee felt suicidal. Ann Owen allegedly attempted to unlawfully fire this employee.
Alleged Criminal Conduct
Racially and Religiously Aggravated Harassment
(Crime and Disorder Act 1998 / Protection from Harassment Act 1997)
Disability Hate Crime
Criminal Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Fraud
(Criminal Law Act 1977 & Fraud Act 2006)
Multiple managers allegedly coordinated to manufacture false data regarding "work avoidance" and "integrity breaches."
Conspiracy to Manufacture False Grounds for Dismissal
Several senior employees at RSA, including Ashley McGhee, Margaret McAllister, Leonie Soul, Dermot Hillen, and Sandy Hillyard, allegedly coordinated actions to falsely accuse an employee of serious misconduct to remove them from the company.
Alleged false accusations:
- Work avoidance
- Failure to follow procedure
- Breaching FCA Conduct Rule 1: Acting with Integrity
Alleged methods:
- Falsified data
- Misleading narrative building
- Suppressed exonerating evidence
Alleged intent:
- Forcing employee dismissal from RSA
- Damaging employee reputation with regulatory bodies (FCA)
- Preventing employee from accessing overtime while financially vulnerable
- Reducing employee eligibility for higher performance-based bonuses
Investigation outcome: An internal RSA investigation conducted by John Bush ultimately found that the employee had not committed any misconduct and cleared them of all allegations. However, by this point, significant damage had allegedly already been done.
Discriminatory Removal of Work Access
Employee allegedly had work access removed during disciplinary process with the intention of preventing them from defending against wrongful accusations.
The "Live Chat Ambush"
Alleged fabrication of misconduct, malicious accusations, and discriminatory targeting by Leonie Soul and Margaret McAllister.
Continued Harassment During Sickness
Alleged failure to uphold reasonable adjustments (Disability Hate Crimes).
