Nov 27 (Reuters) - Britain's biggest drugmaker,GlaxoSmithKline Plc, fired an executive from its SouthAfrican unit for refusing to appear for a performance review,which was called a week after he complained of racialdiscrimination in the workplace, Bloomberg reported, citingcompany documents.
The executive, who was fired on Oct. 3, refused to attendthe company's quarterly performance improvement plan, saying theprogram was designed to force him out, Bloomberg said onThursday. (http://bloom.bg/1uNASrS)
In a company document seen by Bloomberg, GlaxoSmithKlinesaid the performance program was meant to retain the executiveand not force him out.
The executive in his complaint filed to GlaxoSmithKline'scompliance department through a confidential integrity hotlineon Aug. 28, said the company's African consumer healthcaredivision was a "white island," Bloomberg reported.
The complaint said the division, which is GlaxoSmithKline'smost profitable unit on the continent, restricted black peoplefrom being appointed to senior management positions, Bloombergsaid.
GlaxoSmithKline, which said the executive's behavior amounted to gross insubordination, told Bloomberg it had beguninvestigating the matter.
The complainant, who had asked not to be identified becausehe was seeking to be reinstated, had said that only one out ofthe 21 top managers in the division were black, according toBloomberg. (Reporting by Shubhankar Chakravorty in Bangalore; Editing byPeter Cooney)