Pulse survey feedback came first - the termination came weeks later, the lawsuit alleges
A former Oracle senior director says his EVP made racially charged remarks in team meetings, then fired him weeks after he submitted critical feedback through the company's own engagement survey.
Abhishek Shukla filed the lawsuit on April 29, 2026 in the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida. He brings claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Florida Civil Rights Act, alleging race, color, and national origin discrimination, and retaliation.
Shukla, who is of Indian descent, joined Oracle on June 28, 2021 as a senior director in the Strategic Client Group, according to the complaint. The filing says he picked up positive reviews in 2022 and 2023, and was one of just 14 people out of more than 400 retained when that group was dissolved. He moved into a Healthcare Industry Expert role in the Strategic Initiatives Group, reporting to Jonathan Tikochinsky, an EVP based out of London.
That is when the story shifts. Shukla alleges Tikochinsky was polite with the other 13 members of the team but "often aggressive and rude" toward him. Between August and November 2023, the complaint says, the EVP became "overly critical, obstinate" and picked apart every detail of Shukla's work and communications.
Shukla alleges that during team meetings, Tikochinsky said, "[w]ow, you Indians have too many people already. 1.4 billion Indians on the planet," and, "[t]here should be at least a million more Abhishek Shuklas in India." In one-on-ones, according to the filing, the EVP told Shukla he "primarily think[s] in [his] native language" and was "unable to translate [his] thoughts to English," and said he should try to talk like the "others" on the team, who Shukla describes as mostly Caucasians.
The reviews shifted, too. On December 7, 2023, Shukla received what he says was the first negative review of his 2.5 years at Oracle. The complaint says a January 19, 2024 follow-up email accused him of "a lack of clarity in both thinking and articulation in your work" and warned of possible termination if he did not "demonstrate immediate and ongoing improvements." Shukla calls the review and email a pretext for discrimination.
Then comes the part HR teams will want to read twice. On March 22, 2024, Shukla says he submitted feedback through Oracle's annual "Your Voice Survey," including that he did not feel appreciated for his work. On April 8, 2024, Oracle terminated him. According to the complaint, Tikochinsky told Shukla in the termination meeting that his skills did not fit the needs of the current role. Shukla alleges that reason was pretextual, pointing out he was the only member of the 14-person team with Healthcare Technology experience.
The financial hit is substantial. Shukla alleges he lost an estimated 6,277 restricted stock units, including approximately 1,800 set to vest between July and September 2024, with Oracle stock referenced in the filing as reaching as high as approximately $346 per share. He puts his anticipated base salary loss at approximately $130,000.
Shukla dual-filed a charge with the EEOC and the Florida Commission on Human Relations on or about December 12, 2024. The complaint says the FCHR did not issue a reasonable cause finding within the 180-day window, opening the door to federal court.
He is seeking compensatory damages, back pay, punitive damages, and attorney's fees.
The allegations have not been tested in court. Oracle has not filed a response, and no court has ruled.
