Muslim waitress: I was sacked for refusing to wear revealing dress
Tim Stewart17.12.08
A MUSLIM cocktail waitress has claimed she was sacked for refusing to wear a "sexually revealing" red dress for work.
Fata Lemes said she was pestered for sex by customers at Mayfair's Rocket bar and restaurant.
Miss Lemes, 33, alleged bosses ran Rocket "like a sex club" and allowed clients to think waitresses "could be treated as prostitutes".
The strawberry blonde told a tribunal that on only her second shift two guests told her they were looking for a blonde "for one or more nights".
Miss Lemes, of Camden, initially wore loose-fitting black clothes, but a week into the job she was ordered to wear a tight bright red dress that had a plunging neckline and was open at the back.
She tried on the outfit and found it was "physically revealing and openly sexual". She said it made her look like a sex club hostess.
Miss Lemes told Central London Employment Tribunal: "It was indecent. If you put this dress on, you might as well be naked. Everything finishes in the middle at the chest. It is open at the front and back. I did not want men looking at my body.
"I was brought up a Muslim, and am not used to wearing sexually attractive clothes." She refused to wear it and claims she was immediately fired.
Miss Lemes, a Bosnian Muslim, is suing restaurant group Spring & Greene, which owns the Rocket chain, for sexual harassment and sex discrimination.
She is claiming £20,000 for injury to feelings and lost earnings. The firm denies her claims.
It produced photos of one of the waitresses, Amanda Bjursten, wearing the dress in the bar and she modelled it at the tribunal hearing.
Despite her underwear being partially visible through the figure-hugging outfit in one of the photos, Swede Ms Bjursten said she was "completely comfortable" wearing it.
The bar's manager Luca Scanu denied the dress was designed to boost custom and tips from male clients by being "sexually inviting". Italian Mr Scanu said: "If you have curves, it will show them, but I can see the curves of a woman's body if she is wearing trousers."
Miss Lemes's lawyer Joe Sykes asked the restaurant's general manager Danila Bodei: "The reason for choosing the colour red was to indicate that the waitresses were sexually available, wasn't it?"
She replied: "No, it was just the colour to match the bar."
The company claims Miss Lemes resigned in May of her own accord. The tribunal is due to deliver its judgment early next year.
Reader views (54)
Nice one , Ben from London ! You made me laugh out loud at work. Thank goodness British humour is still intact as it seems everything else there is going to the dogs
- Eileen, toronto, Canada
If you don't like the work environment don't take the job. Simple.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
Hasn't there just been a case where a muslim man was claiming compensation for refusing to handle alcohol because it was against his religion? Now this girl volunteers to actually serve cocktails, and that is ok, but wearing the bar's uniform is contrary to her sensitivities
- Ronnie, Brantome France
Lewis, London. Well said. No further comments required.
- Jethro Payne, Streatham Common
mmm, Bosnia isn't in the EU.
- Ed Hope, London
People of faith can bring many positive values to their workplaces. I have muslim friends who are happy to drink alcohol and some who are not. But this was not done in the good name of Islam surely? If Islam was so important to Fata, why did she choose to work in a bar serving alcohol?
- Malcolm M, London, UK
So I - as a non Muslim - go for a job in a mosque (well assuming I could since I am a woman) and am told to wear a niqab/burqa. I don't want to so I leave and then take the mosque to court for forcing me to look wear clothing I don't like, clothing that I personally find humiliates and insults women (and men) by assuming that men cannot look at a 'partially'-dressed woman at all without finding it sexual. Should I get my money? Or should I not have gone for a job in the mosque?
Surely the point is simply - what the hell was she doing going for a job in a place like that? The only logical conclusion is that she is after the money. Only logical conclusion. It's not to do with race or religion it's to do with sheer greed and stupidity. I wouldn't go for a job like that and I am not religious or feminist, it just sounds like a dive. And as for those sympathising with her and calling all the other posters racist, you're knee-jerk idiots. No one cares what religion this woman is, or what nationality, they just don't like scummy scammers.
- Lewis, London
I know friends whom have worked at various cocktail bar and clubs in Mayfair and the management do treat the waitresses like meat they are also compulsive liars and non payers. They can be quite threatening and now most of the girls won't take action against them.
Its about time someone stood up to these bullies.
- Adrian Smith, London
What on earth was she doing as a cocktail waitress in the first place, if as she says, she is a devout muslim. DUH ? Sounds like she deliberately took the job in order to cause trouble, get her 15 minutes and some dosh for Christmas, but then I am just an old cynic.
- Squeaker, Newmarket, UK
I can feel a large compensation payment in the offing....why did this woman take this job in the first place? She knew she wasn't going to be working in a libary! these people are just taking the system for a ride -and winning.
- Susannah, London UK
we are all getting fed up with people like Lenes applying for jobs knowing that there will be a conflict of interet in dress code and then demanding monies through the victim compensation racket, all nicely planned in advance.Nice little earner.It all helps feed the fire of religious contempt
- Mark Armstrong, london. uk
Liberal thinker - not racist just kicking back!!! We would not be able to go to a muslim country and demand that they cater for us, why are we letting every other religion, creed, ethnicity run roughshod over us, and we are not able to say a thing. We are losing our identity.
- E Sullivan, London
Why if she is a true muslim does she want to work in a Mayfair cocktail bar at nights? DId she think it was a religious place!
She will say next that they must not serve alcohol as she can smell it in her place of work.
Hope the judge throws the case out. THere are many muslim cafes/restaurants she could work there - aahh but they only employ men!!!
- Nan, Indonesia
Liberal Thinker you best get thinking about the reasons why you feel there are a number of racist comments on here.
They are not racist, just factual. In today's news alone there are 3 cases of people claim racial discrimination, the lady in this story, Mr Dizaei and Tarique Ghaffur.
The white revolution is coming and with the current economic downturn its pace will rapidly quicken.
- Jl, London
Liberal Thinker, when it is related to religion, how can you say these common-sense comments are RACIST?
She saw the headscarf hairdresser get away with it, so she's joined the gravy train.
- John, Wapping
hang on, this is ROCKET people!! a simple busy bar and restaurant. I personally wouldnt want to go there and be served by someone wearing that monstrosity! Its not a heaving sex joint so why should they wear something like that?! riculous
- Nl, london
Dear Liberal Thinker - She said she was pestered by the customers but she also said, "If you put this dress on, you might as well be naked". I therefore wonder if this is an entirely rational person who would know the difference between being offensively pestered and men showing a friendly interest in them. It's not as if she's a teenager, she's in her 30s and none of this story strikes me as a reasonable way for a grown woman to behave.
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx
So, despite the justification being given by the defence being "the colour red matches the bar" and that "she resigned"... people on here change this to "the woman knew in advance what was expected of her, she probably planned the whole thing" with one person claiming this was some sort of conspiracy. Conspiracy by whom? Do you think Osama is sitting in a cave going, "quick, get Aisha Khan down to Stratford Employment Tribunal - getting Burger King a fine for unfair dismissal with defeat those kufarrr. bwa ha ha ha".
Based on the report of the 'defence' case, she was not told in advance of the requirement to wear the dress and the colour was to "match" the colour of the bar. So let her wear stylish red coloured clothing that doesn't reveal her cleavage. As someone else said, you couldn't do it in an office so why is it OK for a bar.
- Saunaing Tic Gill, London
I see that the majority are so blinded by their bigotry that they cannot even read the facts properly. Where does it say that her claim is for religious discrimination? This is a straight forward sex discrimination claim. Good luck to her.
- Andrew, St Albans
She's just trying to get some compensation. If she is so strongly Muslim, why get a job in a Mayfair bar. She shouldn't use her religion as a way to get compensation - that is a dispicable act. By the way, is Bosnia not safe now? Why is she still here?
- Cameron, London
I have female muslim friends who wear skimpier than this one, what a scam.
She should be pleased to have a job in this grim economic climate - shame on you Fata, ripping off a country that has given you a home and a job.
- Wendy K, London
Some of the comments left are really funny, but the story is SO depressing. I hardly recognise the city I was born and grew up in. It's overflowing with people who seem to hate it and want to destroy all it stands for. Soon there'll be a call to ban the 'seasonal' tree from Trafalgar Square. Maybe a job in Bosnia would suit Fata better.
- Ben Farrell, London
So Britain wants to include and engage Muslim women into society at large, maybe it should create the right environment. Women are not solely sex objects to be exploited and coerced at will by men and for other men!All the women who have commented in the negative should be ashamed, this is not a 'Muslim' issue but a 'Women's Right' issue! Some of the ignorant comments are unbelievable. Guess when people are given the annimity of the internet, they espouse things they would not dare say in the open, lest they are challenged and ridiculed!
- Farhad Navkhoda, Preston, Lancashire
To be perfectly honest,I'm surprised she got the job in the first place!
- Steve, London
I have every respect for people's personal beliefs but why on earth does a girl who is a strict Muslim want to work in a bar in the first place?! There is no point taking a job that's not suited to you and then complain about it.
- A Spencer, London
Most eastern European Muslims drink alcohol.
Some of these comments are a disgrace, you should be able to work without harassment were ever it may be.
It isn't expectable in an office so it shouldn't be in a bar.
It worries me the number of comments on this site, not just this story, that are basically racist, there should be a lot of heads hanging in shame!
- Liberal Thinker, UK
Sooner or later a judge is going to get the idea of suing because he or she is required to wear a wig in court(obviously for the perverted gratification of the justice system).
- Andrew, hampton
I find it hard to understand that this women took a job in a bar as a waitress, she is sacked for not wearing the uniform and is now claiming she is a religious muslim who has been sexually harassed and sexually discrimination against. I trust she losses her case and has to pay all the costs.
- Maggie, London
If she doesn't want the job then leave and why are your publishing such rubbish. If she had been working there for some time then was asked to do this then that is different.
If
Sandy, which part of British tradition involves wearing skimpy dresses ? Sandy is there really a conspiracy, no wonder were now eating Indian takeaways instead of just chips, taste and enjoyment have nothing to do with it.
- Steven, London
Actually i can see her point, it's not a practical garment for the bar trade,so of course it was meant to be sexually provoctive, i hope she wins her case.
- Jeannette, wales
In Afghanistan Muslim woman are forbidden from working at all! Probably saving the restaurants out there millions in compensation claims…
- Paul, London
clearly if her employers were up front on what they expected from their staff at the interview stage, she would have no issue. If not and loaded the pressure on her afterwards - she has good moral case.....her actual religion has nothing to do with it...Islam is not unique in having conservative views to sex. Would this story have even made the press if she was a catholic...
- Martin Clerkenwell, london
"A strawberry blond muslim...
- Martin, Teddington"
She's from Bosina not Iran.
- Nu, london
Were the male waiters told to wear bright revealing clothes as well?? I bet they weren't
- Sandy, Australlia
She will be applying for a job as a food waitress next, refusing to serve sausages next. An example should be made of such idiots that apply for jobs knowing only too well they are unable to perform their role. Did she not see what the other waitresses were wearing when she went for an interview.
- Raminder Bhalla, Northolt
The Judicial system needs to be aware that there seems to be a concerted effort particularly by certain quarters of society to leverage religious preference in cases of normal British/European society.
This is being deliberatly co-ordinated in order to erode our systems and traditions.
- Sandy, London
I'd be more reluctant to wear the dress due to its cheap and nasty look, rather than anything else.
- Isabel, woking
The dress looks perfectly normal to me. In fact, there is probably more fabric to it than a lot of young women are seen in on a night out or on a summers day. Being body shy (even if you dress it up as part of your faith) does not entitle you to get payouts from small businesses. Although if she had any sense she'd realise she's getting them A LOT of publicity this way and no doubt even more business!
- Margaret Salafrio, St John's Wood
Strawberry Blond? Ginger then.
- Paul, London
Go for it, love. It's the UK - you'll be amazed how much you can get.
- Jane, London
My initial feeling about this story was a mixture of anger and sadness that any woman in this day and age could be made to feel ashamed of her body because of religion. But having read the other comments here I can't help but wonder if John from Leicestershire has got a point. And why is it always race or religion? Has anyone heard of a committed vegan becoming a milkman and then sueing the dairy that employs them for causing them offence? Hmmm, funny that, isn't it?
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx
Of course when she applied for the job, they had to employ her, because if she was turned down she could then have claimed she was not employed due to her religion. HWhat a ridiculous world we have become !
- Joanna, london england
If you don't like the rules of the club, don't join!
Business leaders have a right to establish an identity for their companies and should not have to change the rules of play to suit employees, especially to satisfy the archaic whims of a religion to which 98% do not belong and have no interest in.
No one forced this woman to take this job. That said, given the farcical state of affairs in this broken country, I fully expect her to receive a handsome payout.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
it was a come on from day one. She knew the type of job it was and also knew what was expected of her. If her beliefs were true then she would never had taken the job to start with. What annoys me is there are probably a string of women who would be delighted to have that job. Why do we keep falling for these people who literally keep taking us for a ride.
- Ivan Cohen, Miami Florida
Why, as a strict Muslim, is she handling alcohol and fraternising with men?
Go get a job you know conflicts with your religious beliefs, then a couple of weeks into the job sue.
Easy money.
- Frank, Home Counties, England
If one is brought up as a muslim is also not right to around alcohol and certainly not serving it? Seems like a little bit of double standards from someone trying to make a quick buck - This type of action I feel is reprehensible.
- David Haigh, London
purlease - this is ridiculous - why on earth go for a job in an environment that is contrary to your cultural beliefs - and I think a bar selling alcohol might come under that criteria. And then to sue afterwards - sorry hun!!!! dodgy.
Being jewish I wouldn't apply for a job in a pig abbatoir and then moan about it.
the world's gone mad
- Jc, se1
Any pictures?? Give her a grand and tell her to sling her hook...
- Judge Dudey, London
I feel really sorry for this woman, I'm a transsexual athiest and felt more than a little uncomfortable in the mosque last Friday
- Ben, london
A strawberry blond muslim...
- Martin, Teddington
Let me get this right. A muslim who was happy to hand out alcohol in a trendy bar, became indignant at being asked to wear the "uniform" of the bar.
Hmmm.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke
Another day another daft claim for compensation. Why else take a job that has a aspect that you find distasteful. As per usual she'll get her £500,000 and we all will be poorer. The bar claims on it's insurance and us suckers have to pay higher premiums. It's all so predictable isn't it? If I should get a job as a bunny girl then maybe I could later on object to the uniform. Being a hairy a55ed bloke I might find ita little innappropriate. Should I therefore get compo? Given that I really had no intention of bunnying I was simply trying it on for the compo? As I suspect is this claimant.
- Rusty Shackleford, UK
If you work in this sort of establishment, isn't it fair to say that you will be chatted up by men, and be expected to wear something sexy. If this was at odds with her faith why did she go for this job in the first place. It doesn't take the brains of Britain to work out that you will probably be chatted up and propositioned. It doesn't mean to say you need to accept, just be very good at rebuffs.
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
How ridiculous.
Presumably, being a muslim, she's anti alcohol too so quite why she'd go for a job there is anyone's guess. Or was it as simple as getting a job for the sole purpose of claiming some kind of discrimation.
- John, Leicestershire, UK
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