A white former Bank of America govt claims his bosses threatened to destroy his profession and compelled him out for relocating to care for his ailing mom — while a youthful black colleague was allowed to transfer to attend to a dependent’s wants with out going through self-discipline, according to a bombshell lawsuit.
Robert Zullo, 55, a former BofA senior vp, alleges that his superior, AJ Venit, warned him he “would never work in the banking industry again” during an August 2025 confrontation over Zullo relocating from Charlotte, NC, to Albany, NY, to care for his guardian.
Venit also allegedly warned Zullo that he would be “gone in 30 days, we just have to follow the paperwork process,” according to the 23-page grievance filed Friday in federal courtroom in Charlotte, NC.
Former Bank of America senior vp Robert Zullo, 55, alleges he confronted racial discrimination and was compelled out after searching for flexibility to care for his ailing mom. Robert Zullo / LinkedIn
The banking large rejected the allegations.
“We provide flexibility and leave accommodations for all employees, however, Mr. Zullo repeatedly failed to comply with company policy, and we strongly disagree with this account,” a Bank of America spokesperson advised The Post.
“We look forward to presenting the facts through the appropriate legal channels.”
Zullo, who labored in the financial institution’s compliance and operational danger division, alleges in the lawsuit that he confronted discrimination because of his race and age while youthful colleagues — including a black worker who was later promoted — were allowed more versatile work preparations with out self-discipline.
Zullo alleges that his bosses had a monetary incentive to favor black staff because parts of their annual bonuses were tied to range targets — and that the black worker counted toward these objectives while he did not.
That worker was allegedly allowed to relocate completely from Charlotte to New Jersey because of a dependent’s wants, bypassing the financial institution’s formal flexible-work approval course of, according to the grievance.
Karen Cheney, Zullo’s former supervisor, allegedly approved him to work from the financial institution’s Albany, NY, workplace before searching for proof to self-discipline him over his attendance. Karen Cheney / Facebook
Venit and Zullo’s direct supervisor, Karen Cheney, accepted the transfer, according to the grievance.
The black worker, whom Zullo says was in his 30s, was not required to report to a financial institution workplace in New Jersey and was later promoted to senior vp, according to the go well with.
Zullo, meanwhile, claims he was disciplined despite receiving verbal permission from Cheney in July 2024 to work intermittently from the financial institution’s Albany workplace while caring for his ailing mom, according to the papers.
His mom suffered from severe medical circumstances affecting her imaginative and prescient, cognitive talents and mobility, with intensive outpatient remedy scheduled to start in September 2025, according to the submitting.
The association continued for roughly a 12 months with out disciplinary motion, while the financial institution’s weekly supervisor dashboard constantly marked Zullo as compliant, according to the go well with.
Bank of America govt AJ Venit allegedly threatened that Zullo “would never work in the banking industry again” during a confrontation over his work preparations. A.J. Venit / Facebook
Still, Cheney contacted human sources on Aug. 6, 2025 searching for “additional facts and data” to support a warning over his attendance, acknowledging that “the current reporting indicates compliance,” according to the go well with.
Every week later, Bank of America issued a disciplinary letter alleging that Zullo had failed to spend three full days a week at his assigned workplace in Charlotte, the grievance said.
The financial institution allegedly said its data confirmed he had badged into Albany and linked remotely from residential places.
The reprimand came a day after Zullo utilized to make Albany his assigned workplace so he could dwell with his ailing mom, the banker said.
Bank of America faces a federal lawsuit alleging race and age discrimination, retaliation and violations of household medical go away legal guidelines introduced by a former senior vp who claims he was compelled to resign. REUTERS
At an Aug. 14 assembly, Venit allegedly accused Zullo of utilizing the Albany workplace with out permission and refused to let his software attain a overview committee.
Cheney declined to confirm that she had approved the association a 12 months earlier, according to the grievance.
Zullo filed an inside ethics grievance alleging race and age discrimination the following day.
Four days later, Cheney and Venit positioned him on a efficiency enchancment plan citing “low performance and lack of productivity” and warning: “TERMINATION CAN TAKE PLACE AT ANY TIME,” the go well with said.
Zullo claims the transfer was retaliatory and violated a financial institution coverage requiring pending employment actions to be paused after an ethics grievance.
He pointed to constantly passable job evaluations, expanded tasks and a efficiency award from Cheney just three months earlier.
The financial institution also canceled his pending flexible-work software, while the plan allegedly blocked him from making use of for household medical go away, non permanent go away or inside transfers as his mom ready for six months of medical remedy scheduled to start in September 2025.
Zullo resigned on Aug. 20, 2025, claiming his bosses had already determined to hearth him. His departure came roughly 4 months before he would have certified for substantial retirement vesting and fairness advantages, according to the grievance.
The Post has sought remark from Zullo.