April 11, 2013
STOCKHOLM (AFP) - A Swedish employment tribunal on Wednesday found a lingerie chain guilty of gender discrimination after forcing one of its employees to display her bra size on a badge.
Despite her objections, the young woman had to wear a sign stating her name, chest measurement and cup size while working at the "Change" chain's largest store in the northeastern town of Sundsvall.
The Swedish Labour Court said the requirement was discriminatory and that the woman's dignity had been "violated".
According to the ruling, the company used the badges to show that it had a wide range of products, and to make the issue of bra sizes "less dramatic" for customers.
"It's a pleasing judgement... It's also a great victory for the integrity of all employees," a spokeswoman for the Commercial Employees' Union, Jaana Paalsson, told Swedish news agency TT.
"Change" was ordered to pay 50,000 kronor (6,000 euros or $7,800) in damages, as well as the plaintiff's legal fees.
