MAM
Publicis employee slaps lawsuit on gender bias
MUMBAI: In a curious case, Monique da Silva Moore, global healthcare director in the Boston office of the Publicis Groupe SA, has sued the company for $100 million saying that the French advertising company discriminates against women in pay and promotions.
“A Publicis woman‘s place is in the back of the line, far removed from senior management positions, almost all of which are reserved for the men,” Moore’s complaint observes.
The case, filed in the US District Court in Manhattan, seeks class-action status. Women make up 70 per cent of the company‘s public relations staff but hold only about 15 per cent of leadership positions, the lawsuit adds.
The lawsuit says MSLGroup was in the midst of a reorganisation when Moore took her maternity leave. She says she was led to believe she had a position in her office in Boston, but that upon her return she was ordered to move immediately to New York without reimbursement for relocation expenses, forcing her to accept termination.
In her lawsuit, Moore seeks damages of at least $100 million and is the latest of many accusing companies of systematically favouring men over women in the workplace.
“We generally do not comment on pending litigation, but we can say that the fact that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission dismissed Ms da Silva‘s charge reflects the lack of merit to her claims,” a spokeswoman for MSLGroup said.
Da Silva Moore worked for MSLGroup from 1999 through January 2010, when she says she was unfairly terminated after a four-month maternity leave. She earlier worked for the company from 1991 to 1993, the lawsuit says.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
