A British barmaid claims she was sacked for not wearing a bra, according to The Sun. The woman identified as Kate Hanna, 22, went bra-free while serving drinks at the Bird and Beer in Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
But she says managers at the trendy Californian-themed bar felt her outfit left too little to the imagination. However, they deny she was dismissed for that reason.
Kate stormed home on Saturday and took a selfie still in her grey T-shirt uniform to prove a point she wasn’t being offensive.
“So, I’ve just got home after being sacked from my job, for refusing to wear a bra,” she wrote on Facebook.
“Yesterday an inappropriate sexual remark was made to me (at work). I felt uncomfortable, objectified and shocked that this had happened.
“Unfortunately (the manager) saw fit to deal with the situation by telling me that I’m not allowed into work in future unless I’m wearing a bra.
“This was said to me in front of three other staff members and customers, leaving me feeling body shamed and completely shocked that the blame was being put onto me that I had been sexually harassed at work.
“I am absolutely disgusted with the blatant lack of respect for my right as a woman to wear whatever makes me personally comfortable. I feel so sad.”
Friends on her Facebook site urged her to take legal action against the pub for unfair dismissal and vowed to boycott the venue. Others suggested a braless protest outside.
“What are they going to do next for goodness sake — a knicker check? Who on earth knows if you go ‘commando’ or not,” one commenter wrote. “It’s no-one’s business and no one has the right to ask either!!”
The pub then denied dismissing Kate for that reason.
“No employees have been dismissed from the company regarding these allegations,” Bird and Beer said in a statement.
“We have a duty of care to protect all of our employees from any discrimination or sexual harassment within the workplace and we take any comments towards our employees very seriously and act upon them immediately in a professional manner.”
