July 25, 2011
A female sales assistant who claims she was ‘driven out’ of her role at a major retailer could be set to launch legal action after being punished for not wearing make-up at work.
Ms Stark was allegedly pestered by Harrods’ senior management after falling foul of the ladies’ dress code, which stipulates that employees must be seen in "full makeup at all time: base, blusher, full eyes (not too heavy), lipstick, lip liner and gloss”.
However, Ms Stark, who claims not to have worn make-up for four of the five years at the store, believes that no one raised the issue during her employment, and that when she was eventually asked to wear make-up, upon refusing she was offered a make-up workshop.
"I was appalled. It was insulting. Basically, it was implying it would be an improvement. I don't understand how they think it is OK to say that,” she told the Guardian.
“I know what I look like with makeup. I have used it, though never at work. But I just could not see how, in this day and age, Harrods could take away my right to choose whether to wear it or not."
Ms Stark has now resigned from her job but legal experts have suggested she may be able to bring a claim under the Equality Act.
