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Original poster

Plus size shop employment - is this legal ?

121 replies

laceygo · 07/09/2018 19:49

DD 16 has just filled in an online application for a Saturday job in a plus size clothes shop, and right at the end it says ' all employees are required to wear our clothes as uniform , size range starts at size 16, please tick if you can fulfil this requirement '
Is this legal ? Just sounds a bit off to us

OP posts:

Bellabutterfly2016 · 08/09/2018 17:30

I worked in retail and had to wear the clothes - it was contractual and I guess must be legal as I have lots of friends who work in retail now who do the same.

Some retailers give uniforms such as supermarkets and places like M&S.

Thinking about it tho retailers generally give good discounts to staff on clothing for themselves and if I was say, a size 8 or 10, why would I want to work in Evans/ Simply Be or Yours when I could benefit from discount from a more appropriate size to me and likewise if I was a 22/24 I wouldn't be wanting to work in Miss Selfridge or Topshop!

It's just common sense. Plus many larger ladies may be more comfortable being served by someone who isn't very slim and understands how stressful and upsetting it can be to go clothes shopping.

There are lots of retail jobs atm in the lead up to Christmas and a lot of the time people get kept on, I hope she finds something soon.

Original poster

laceygo · 08/09/2018 17:41

@Bellabutterfly2016 cheers, I'm sure she will , it just worked out well with bus times etc but I can definitely see that other customers might prefer not to get served by a skinny teen (even though she's lovely and I'm sure would be very helpful )

OP posts:

Bellabutterfly2016 · 08/09/2018 17:47

If she goes on indeed and types in your local town and "Christmas" into the key word field hopefully something suitable will come up for her.

I'm sure she'd be fine serving bigger ladies but staff discount somewhere young and trendy she likes is a benefit to her

Original poster

laceygo · 08/09/2018 17:55

@Bellabutterfly2016 she'd absolutely love top shop

OP posts:

LassWiADelicateAir · 08/09/2018 19:41

Were Abercrombie and Fitch not in trouble for doing the same thing a few years back? Having a dress policy based on 'marketing' and wanting a specific look?

No it is not the same. Abercrombie and Fitch were looking to have staff who were white and preppy. They were accused of using policies which discriminated on racial and religious grounds- eg not employing a Muslim woman who wore a headscarf.

BakedBeans47 · 08/09/2018 19:43

A and F also made a girl with a false hand work in the back shop as se contravened their “looks policy”

NoLeslie · 08/09/2018 19:47

I'd just tick the box and wear the baggy clothes tbh.

Bimgy85 · 08/09/2018 19:59

Sounds fair enough to me. They want plus size women to feel comfortable shopping in there and buying form a plus size sales assistant. If I was huge and went in shopping and there was a slim woman with a nice body serving me I'd feel judged and embarrassed

That is only fair!

5000KallaxHoles · 08/09/2018 20:04

I'm pretty sure the staff in our local Yours aren't size 16 plus - but as one of their regulars I'm kind of glad they've got that policy as it's bad enough clothes shopping when plus size without having to deal with slim teens (someone I knew growing up, size 10 used to work at Evans on Saturday jobs and openly referred to it as "the fat shop")

Yes fat = bad, cost NHS money (I never go to the doctors), fatties should be shot, in our days we ate a lump of celery and were grateful and all the other MN cliches but would you really rather all the fatties were walking around naked? We gotta wear something!

Cachailleacha · 08/09/2018 20:09

Going on about wearing a 16 a 12 or a14 is nonsense in relation to the range in specialist shops like Evans. I'm a 14/16 - nothing in Marina Rinaldi (upmarket version of Evans) which starts at 16 fits me.

So what happens when a size 16 woman applies for, and is offered the job, but all the clothes are too big? If the size 16 is a vanity size, shouldn't the job application form say so?

Pamdoo · 08/09/2018 20:16

but would you really rather all the fatties were walking around naked? We gotta wear something!

Of course not, don't think anyone has said anything of the sort. I'm a size 18 myself, I just don't feel uncomfortable being served by someone who's a size 8. I just think its wrong to employ someone based on how they look because they don't fit a company's image.

LassWiADelicateAir · 08/09/2018 20:40

I just think its wrong to employ someone based on how they look because they don't fit a company's image

It has nothing to do with the company's image- it is about employing assistants who can comfortably wear the clothes the shop is selling.

icelollycraving · 08/09/2018 21:25

Completely normal. Most fashion brands require their teams in store to wear the stock. It wouldn’t rule out a person that didn’t fit their look but it is a hurdle.
For example, in grooming guidelines for a beauty company you need to wear makeup, very few will allow a bare face.
Fashion, whether it’s plus size or not will require a certain buy in to the brand. She could say in her application letter (not the cv) that she has shopped their with a friend and a member of family who really love their range as they struggle to find fashion in their size. It really impressed her in store that the device was always amazing and friendly etc. They don’t need to know it’s because the hours work with her buses.
I’ve been in retail management for many years. I expect a bit of creativity if someone doesn’t quite fit the profile. Wish her luck!

AintNoCista · 08/09/2018 22:12

To be honest I don't like fat people serving me in topshop, I feel judged for being skinny and I'm glad they have such policies!

Oh no wait, that sounds rude right?

Size is changeable which is why it can't be protected, it's far too easy to bounce in and out of each group. I've been called fat before and have been told that I look like I need to eat a hamburger. I'm a size 10/12 and get it from both sides!

Redyoyo · 08/09/2018 23:06

I've never been served by a fat person in topshop - funny that.

BakedBeans47 · 08/09/2018 23:25

I’ve been served by slim people in Evans. I don’t care about their size. I generally find their staff courteous and helpful and that’s what matters to me.

Original poster

laceygo · 08/09/2018 23:52

@BakedBeans47 the voice of reason at last

OP posts:

Original poster

laceygo · 09/09/2018 17:52

Application rejected

OP posts:

Rufustheyawningreindeer · 09/09/2018 18:48

What a shame for her

Better luck next time

icelollycraving · 10/09/2018 07:46

Her application may not have been rejected because of her size. I don’t remember seeing it but has she any experience? I get a huge amount of applicants for part time positions.
You seem to be making this a big deal. She won’t get every job she goes for. I understand it would have worked for her in terms of hours etc but there will be lots of Christmas temp roles available soon.

Original poster

laceygo · 10/09/2018 09:23

@icelollycraving nah I'm not making a big deal of it , just thought I'd update cos of all the replies ,
she has experience so thought she might at least get an interview but am not thinking at all it's just to do with the size thing ... lol gotta love mumsnet, on just a calm inquisitive question I've been accused of being unreasonable and making a big deal of it

OP posts:

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