Ex-employee sues Goldman Sachs, says ‘culture of bullying’ led to mental breakdown

A former Goldman Sachs executive has accused the investment bank of creating a “culture of bullying” where tempers ran high and tears were frequent. Ian Dodd, from the London office, is suing Goldman Sachs for £1 million, alleging that he had a mental breakdown during his time at the firm.

Dodd, 55, worked as the bank’s global head of recruiting from 2018 to 2021 – four years during which the “dysfunctional” workplace led to his mental breakdown, he claims in his lawsuit.

According to court documents obtained by the Financial Times, Dodd says that excessive work pressure caused him to fall ill one year after joining Goldman Sachs. He also claimed that it was common to see employees “express distress” by crying and “sobbing through meetings.”

He quit Goldman Sachs in 2021. In his lawsuit, he accused the investment bank of overworking him and expecting employees to work long hours – accusations that the firm has also faced in the past.