Former Bank of America executive alleges discrimination over caregiving and relocation
Robert Zullo, a former Bank of America senior vice-president, alleges he was forced to resign after the bank treated his caregiving and work-location arrangements differently from those of a younger Black colleague. His lawsuit claims discrimination based on age and race; the bank says the allegations are false and that it will fight them.
Zullo says he moved from Charlotte to Albany to care for his ill mother and, from July 2024, worked intermittently from the Albany office with his manager’s verbal approval. He alleges he was later placed on a performance improvement plan after seeking leave and permission to relocate, while the colleague was allowed to move to New Jersey and was promoted. The complaint, filed in federal court in North Carolina, also says a manager threatened that Zullo would be out within 30 days and would never work in banking again.
In short
- Former executive Robert Zullo alleges age and race discrimination.
- He says his Albany work arrangement supported care for his mother.
- Bank of America denies the claims and says it will contest them.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Zullo’s strongest case is that the bank applied its rules inconsistently: he says his manager approved his Albany work arrangement while he cared for his ill mother, yet he faced a performance plan after seeking leave and relocation, while a younger Black colleague was permitted to move and was promoted. If supported by evidence, that difference could raise legitimate questions about whether age or race influenced the treatment and whether he was pressured to resign.
The case against
The bank’s strongest case is that the allegations are disputed, and a difference in outcomes alone does not establish discrimination. It may argue that the employees’ roles, performance, timing or circumstances differed, and that its decisions were based on legitimate business or performance reasons rather than Zullo’s age, race or caregiving responsibilities; the court process can test those explanations against the evidence.
Explained simply
Bank of America is a large US bank with offices across the country. Senior vice-presidents are experienced managers, and workplace rules can govern where employees work and how they take leave to care for family members.
Robert Zullo says he worked for the bank while caring for his ill mother, and that a younger Black colleague received different treatment over work location and promotion. His lawsuit claims age and race discrimination; the bank denies the allegations. The case concerns how employers apply workplace policies and whether differences in treatment amount to unlawful discrimination.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “White Bank of America executive faced discrimination and was forced to resign while caring for his ill mom, bombshell lawsuit claims”.