KANSAS CITY – A former employee has sued Globus Medical claiming he was discriminated against and fired from his position because of his race and religion.
Plaintiff Naveed Siddiqi filed the federal lawsuit November 6 against Globus Medical North America, Globus Medical, Globus INR President Jay Martin, Globus INR Vice President Paul Miele and Globus INR Zone Director Daniel Powell claiming violations of the Missouri Human Rights Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and Section 1981, with allegations of discriminatory conduct and retaliation.
According to court documents, Siddiqi was employed by Globus Medical North America and Globus Medical from April 2021 through January 18, 2023. Siddiqi, a Pakistani Muslim, says he faced discrimination based on race, color, religion and/or national origin. Initially hired as a regional sales manager, Siddiqi says Powell, assigned as his mentor, displayed little interest in his professional development, neglecting essential mentoring responsibilities. Siddiqi further claims a co-worker once told him Martin said he looked like a terrorist "from an Al Qaeda training camp."
Powell was later promoted to Zone Director, becoming Siddiqi's direct supervisor. On January 3, 2023, Siddiqi says he was informed of a "separation process," citing alleged performance issues and was told he could resign or be fired. Powell and Miele, according to Siddiqi, provided inaccurate examples as a pretext for discrimination. Siddiqi says he informed human resources of the alleged discrimination. When Powell and Miele found out about the report, he says they decided to fire him immediately.
Siddiqi further claims Globus Medical refused to pay him all his earned sales commissions, refused to reimburse him for expenses he incurred on the company's behalf, and refused to offer him a severance package. Siddiqi claims his treatment was different from that of other white, Christian regional sales managers who were terminated from their positions.
Siddiqi is seeking actual and punitive damages for distress, humiliation, monetary losses, plus interest, attorney fees, court costs and other relief. He is being represented by Thomas F. Ralston and Kenneth D. Kinney of Ralston Kinney in Kansas City.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri case number 4:23-cv-00814