A US federal court is set to examine whether an investment bank can dismiss a junior employee who requested guaranteed sleep hours as a medical accommodation, in a case that could reshape disability policies across Wall Street. Kathryn Shiber has sued New York advisory firm Centerview Partners for disability discrimination after her 2020 dismissal.
Shiber was granted a nine-hour nightly sleep window to manage a diagnosed mood and anxiety disorder, while remaining available at other times. She was terminated weeks later. In allowing the case to proceed, the court found a genuine dispute over whether unpredictable hours are essential to the analyst role.
The lawsuit unfolds against a backdrop of longstanding concerns about extreme working hours in investment banking. Previous industry scrutiny intensified after junior bankers at major firms highlighted exhaustion and sleep deprivation during the pandemic, prompting some institutions to introduce limited reforms such as protected weekends.
Shiber is seeking back pay, projected future earnings and damages. Centerview argues that sustained overnight availability is fundamental to the role. The jury will determine whether such expectations are operational necessities or entrenched industry practice.