Deloitte diversity champion ‘facing internal investigation over claims of bullying’

A diversity champion at top account firm Deloitte is facing an internal investigation over claims of bullying, it has been reported.

The Big Four firm is also probing allegations of inappropriate working practice made against Dimple Agarwal, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Ms Agarwal is a UK deputy chief executive and managing partner of the firm’s People and Purposes group.

She also lists herself as an LGBQT+ ally for Deloitte Globe and a race ally for Deloitte’s Multicultural Network.

According to the Telegraph, the 49-year-old faces allegation from staff she ‘communicated aggressively’.

Staff have also accused her of telling colleagues to attend ‘extremely early morning meetings’, the reports add.

More than a dozen complaints have reportedly been made against Ms Agarwal.

MailOnline has contacted Deloitte for comment. Ms Agarwal, was also contacted, but MailOnline received an out-of-office email in response.

Deloitte is probing allegations of bullying and inappropriate working practice made against Dimple Agarwal, according to the Telegraph

In 2019, Ms Agarwal, in her role in Deloitte’s People and Purposes group, announced the firm would double the paid leave period for ‘non-birthing parents’.

The company, which employs around 20,000 people in the UK, had previously given staff two-weeks paid paternity leave, but doubled it to four.

The decision came amid what bosses described as a ‘disappointingly low’ take up of paternity leave.

Speaking at the time, Ms Agarwal said the move followed research by the firm, which found that increasing numbers of working fathers between the age of 24 and 40 were actively involved in day-to-day parenting.

However she said that this wasn’t necessarily reflected in support from their employers.

She said: ‘This promise to our Deloitte families is all part of our commitment to inclusion, where we are creating an environment of respect, dignity and belonging for all.

‘What’s more, we’ve increased flexibility as to when and how this leave can be taken as we recognise that when it comes to family commitments, one size doesn’t fit all.’

In its annual report in October, Deloitte announced partners in the UK were set for a 17 per cent pay cut because of the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact.

In its annual report in October, Deloitte (pictured: a Deloitte headquarters) announced partners in the UK were set for a 17 per cent pay cut because of the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact.

In the same report, the company also offered up details of the company’s ethnicity pay gap. 

There were minimal increases on the mean and median hourly pay gap figures but this.

However Ms Agarwa, who reportedly joined Deloitte in 2004, said this ‘was expected’ due to its efforts to recruit a more diverse workforce – leading to ‘an increase in the proportion of our colleagues from ethnic minorities at our more junior levels’.

Last year a report revealed just 11 of the almost 3,000 equity partners at the Big Four accountancy firms are black.

At the time of the report, in June last year, Deloitte had one black equity partner. EY and KPMG had two each while PwC had six.

In response, Ms Agarwa told the Telegraph: ‘We have a lot to do and much further to go.’