lawsuits

Prada Japan Employee Accuses Management of Trying to Fire ‘Old, Fat, and Ugly’ Workers

Rina Bovrisse, a senior retail manager for Prada Japan, is suing the label for allegedly discriminating against store employees they found visually unappealing. She claims Prada Japan CEO Davide Sesia, after touring 40 stores, told her to “eliminate” about fifteen staff members he called “old, fat, ugly, disgusting,” or lacking “the Prada look.” Well, if this is “the Prada look,” he’s limiting his options to about five high-schoolers.

Following that incident in May of last year, thirteen staff members were issued devotional transfer orders because of poor sales. Sesia then called Bovrisse to a meeting and told her, the suit alleges, to “change her hairstyle, to lose weight.” Bovrisse told the Japan Times that he added he was “ashamed of Ms Bovrisse’s ugliness, so he doesn’t want visitors from Italy to see her.”

In November, the company placed her on involuntary leave. Bovrisse, who has eighteen years’ experience working in fashion, filed a suit in December. Prada hasn’t commented on the case yet. Bovrisse said, “My responsibility is to protect hardworking women and make sure their working environment is safe.”

Prada ordered manager to get rid of ‘old, fat and ugly’ staff [Telegraph UK]

Prada Japan Employee Accuses Management of Trying to Fire ‘Old, Fat, and Ugly’ Workers