A former Bank of America executive claims he was discriminated against and forced to resign while caring for his ailing mother, according to a lawsuit filed in the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert Zullo, 55, alleges that in August 2025, his boss, AJ Venit, told him he would "never work in the banking industry again" during a confrontation. Zullo had relocated from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Albany, New York, to provide care for his mother. He claims his former supervisor, Karen Cheney, had given him verbal permission to work intermittently from the Albany office while fulfilling caregiving duties. This arrangement had been in place for a year, during which Zullo received no reprimands and even earned a performance award, the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit further alleges that a younger, African American employee working under Venit was permitted to permanently relocate to care for a family member and was later promoted to senior vice president. Zullo claims that while he was placed on an improvement plan, his colleague received a promotion, suggesting a more favorable outcome for employees who helped the bank meet diversity targets.
According to the suit, Zullo informed Cheney in May 2024 about his mother's condition. Cheney reportedly submitted a request to HR for Zullo to travel between locations, which was denied. In July 2024, Cheney allegedly provided a verbal alternative arrangement, allowing Zullo to use his access card at the Albany office to maintain his work responsibilities while out of state.
In August 2025, Zullo informed Cheney of his intention to apply for temporary leave to care for his mother, whose treatments were scheduled to begin in September 2025. He subsequently submitted a request to relocate to the Albany office. The following day, Zullo states he received a letter requiring him to work three full days per week in the Charlotte office.
During a meeting with Cheney and Venit, Zullo claims Venit accused him of using the Albany office without authorization and dismissed his caregiving application without offering alternatives. Venit allegedly told Zullo he would be "gone in 30 days" and would "never work in banking again."
Following this meeting, Zullo filed an ethics and compliance complaint, alleging unequal treatment and discrimination based on age and race. Days later, he was placed on a performance improvement plan citing "low performance and lack of productivity." The plan also reportedly blocked his access to FMLA and other leave options, preventing him from taking leave weeks before his mother's treatment was set to begin.
Zullo resigned from his position on August 20, 2025. The lawsuit contends that a "reasonable person" in his situation would have felt compelled to resign, noting that Zullo resigned approximately four months before he would have qualified for significant retirement vesting and equity benefits.
Bank of America has denied the allegations, with a spokesperson stating that the company provides flexibility and leave accommodations for all employees. The bank asserts that Zullo "repeatedly failed to comply with company policy" and that they "strongly disagree with this account," adding they look forward to presenting the facts through legal channels.
Neither Venit nor Cheney are listed as defendants in the lawsuit, although Daily Mail contacted them for comment. The publication also noted that Zullo had been contacted for comment.