This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/8121104.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Store manager denies 'taunting' | Store manager denies 'taunting' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A shop manager has denied "taunting" a worker who was told she could not work on the shop floor while wearing a cardigan to cover her prosthetic arm. | A shop manager has denied "taunting" a worker who was told she could not work on the shop floor while wearing a cardigan to cover her prosthetic arm. |
| Riam Dean, 22, is suing Abercrombie & Fitch, saying she felt "diminished" when told to work in the stockroom for not fitting the firm's "look policy". | Riam Dean, 22, is suing Abercrombie & Fitch, saying she felt "diminished" when told to work in the stockroom for not fitting the firm's "look policy". |
| Maria Barbera, then manager at the Savile Row store, denied her manner was "aggressive or intimidating". | |
| She said she told Miss Dean she could work in the shop wearing short sleeves. | She said she told Miss Dean she could work in the shop wearing short sleeves. |
| Miss Dean, of Greenford, north-west London, is suing the clothing store over discrimination. | Miss Dean, of Greenford, north-west London, is suing the clothing store over discrimination. |
| I was direct and straight to the point. I did not think my manner was aggressive or intimidating in any way Maria Barbera, ex-manager at Abercrombie & Fitch | I was direct and straight to the point. I did not think my manner was aggressive or intimidating in any way Maria Barbera, ex-manager at Abercrombie & Fitch |
| The student at Queen Mary University of London, who was born with her left forearm missing, claims she had been "taunted" and "goaded" by Ms Barbera. | The student at Queen Mary University of London, who was born with her left forearm missing, claims she had been "taunted" and "goaded" by Ms Barbera. |
| The company maintains Miss Dean "exaggerated" the impact of the experience on her life and that the store values inclusiveness. | The company maintains Miss Dean "exaggerated" the impact of the experience on her life and that the store values inclusiveness. |
| Speaking at the tribunal Ms Barbera said: "I was aware that she had a prosthetic arm, but did not know that she had been given approval to wear clothes that were not in accordance with the look policy. | Speaking at the tribunal Ms Barbera said: "I was aware that she had a prosthetic arm, but did not know that she had been given approval to wear clothes that were not in accordance with the look policy. |
| "I explained that she could not work on the shop floor because of her cardigan and asked that she go and work in the stockroom. Riam did not seem upset by this." | "I explained that she could not work on the shop floor because of her cardigan and asked that she go and work in the stockroom. Riam did not seem upset by this." |
| She confronted Miss Dean when she heard the student had told a colleague that she was "kicked off" the shop floor. | She confronted Miss Dean when she heard the student had told a colleague that she was "kicked off" the shop floor. |
| 'Upset and annoyed' | 'Upset and annoyed' |
| Ms Barbera said: "I was direct and straight to the point. I did not think my manner was aggressive or intimidating in any way. | Ms Barbera said: "I was direct and straight to the point. I did not think my manner was aggressive or intimidating in any way. |
| "Rian told me she was upset because I did not give her the opportunity to take the cardigan off. | "Rian told me she was upset because I did not give her the opportunity to take the cardigan off. |
| "I explained that I had wrongly assumed that she would not want to remove the cardigan." | "I explained that I had wrongly assumed that she would not want to remove the cardigan." |
| The manager said when she told Miss Dean she could return to the shop floor if she agreed to take off the cardigan the student allegedly replied: "It's ok, I'm used to being the victim." | The manager said when she told Miss Dean she could return to the shop floor if she agreed to take off the cardigan the student allegedly replied: "It's ok, I'm used to being the victim." |
| Ms Barbera said she was "upset and annoyed" by the incident but she said at the time she did not make the link between the student's reluctance to take off her cardigan with her disability. | Ms Barbera said she was "upset and annoyed" by the incident but she said at the time she did not make the link between the student's reluctance to take off her cardigan with her disability. |
| Maria Barbera is now a senior manager at the store's sister chain Hollister. | Maria Barbera is now a senior manager at the store's sister chain Hollister. |