Investment Pensions Europe, UK


[8/13/2012]

Swedish roundup: Skandia lawsuit, Handelsbanken move

Author: Pirkko Juntunen


SWEDEN – Skandia, the Swedish financial services provider, is being
sued by Diskrimineringsbyran, an anti-discrimination organisation in
Uppsala, for allegedly prohibiting a transsexual person from changing
her name in the company register.

The woman, who was born as a man, was told in her first conversation
with Skandia that the name change was not possible, as it did not fit
with her legal gender.

Once the agent had checked the procedures with his supervisor, he
corrected his initial statement and said anyone who applied for a name
change would have to do so in writing.

Diskrimineringsbyran argues that the woman was discriminated against.

A press officer at Skandia said the company took such issues
seriously, but did not believe it had done anything wrong.

In a statement, he said it was unfortunate that Diskrimineringsbyran
had chosen Skandia to "test" Sweden's new anti-discrimination
legislation.

He also said the company did not want to use policyholders' money to
pay for a settlement.

>snip<


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