Raim Dean a previous employee of Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) has made a claim to the employment tribunal for disability discrimination. Ms Dean is seeking damages of up to £20,000 for disability discrimination and constructive dismissal, having worked at A&F’s London store for just over a year.
Ms Dean was born with her left forearm missing and wears a prosthetic arm. Ms Dean’s employer gave her permission to wear a cardigan to work to cover the join in her arm. Ms Dean alleges that she was then told by the store manager that the cardigan did not adhere to the A&F dress code so she would have to work in the stockroom instead of on the shop floor. The manager said Ms Dean could return to the shop floor if she removed the cardigan.
A&F have stated that they have a strong anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policy and they are committed to providing a supportive and dignified environment for all of its employees.
If the allegations are found to be true this could be very detrimental to A&F even though the claim is due to the potentially discriminatory actions of one manager. According to news reports the only equal opportunities training this manager had received was an online computer programme. It is all very well having an anti-discrimination policy but if the staff are not fully trained on how to implement it and ensure discrimination does not enter the workplace, then how can these policies be expected to filter through effectively?
Have you had experience of difficulties when implementing new policies, particularly equal opportunities/anti-discriminatory ones?
How do you ensure that your staff are kept up to date on your equal opportunities /anti discrimination standards and policies?
Have you ever experienced discrimination or harassment as a result of particular managers or members of staff, particularly disability discrimination? If so how have you dealt with it and what was the outcome?
sarah wrote:
I am disabled, last year I won my tribunal claim. The judgement stated, I had been harassed on two counts. Unfortunately, my employer hadn't disciplined the person in question. This is gross misconduct under my employer's policies . I've had to submit a further claim