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Japanese Prada Employee Fired For Being Too Ugly?

France24 reports about Rina Bovrisse, an employee of Prada Japan who was fired after complaining to the head office after being asked to change her physical appearance to fit the company’s approved image:

« On September 29 I was called into a meeting room by the senior human resources manager who warned me that I needed to change my hairstyle, lose weight — I just didn’t have that Prada look », Rina told France 24.

« There was silence for a little while, and then I asked him, don’t you think that this is an inappropriate thing for a human resources manager to say? And he replied saying he had already fired a Miu Miu store manager because she had bad teeth ».

In a related story, Prada is also coming under fire for giving employees “bonuses” and then forcing them to spend the money on Prada products.

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45 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - May 18, 2010 at 9:34 am

Categories: Discrimination Tags:

Jonston

Well, she is quite unattractive.

drogba

I gave you -1 but funny nonetheless.
tbrot

Yes, you should apply for a job at Prada.
ouch

agreed… she is ugly…. but I’m reserving my judgement until someone posts
a nude photo of this lady. A great body is more important to me.

Fontaine

Why does she always wear wigs for her public appearances?
Vonskippy

Dear Japan, the 1960′s called, they like their piggish mentality back now.

parcivale

The mentality at issue here is Prada’s. It was head office in Milan that, at the very least, approved those firings.

leitmotiv

The mentality at issue here is Prada’s. It was head office in Milan that, at the very least, approved those firings.

Agree…pass the buck completely to Prada. Japan’s labor guidelines which allow this dismissal are functioning well and no criticism of them could possibly be valid. I’m sure the Miu Miu manager did have bad teeth. What a horrible employee she must have been!

LB

You have a link to the article where the dismissal was legally challenged by the aggrieved party but found to be “allowable” under Japanese labor law?
leitmotiv

You have a link to the article where the dismissal was legally challenged by the aggrieved party but found to be “allowable” under Japanese labor law?

*sigh*

No. Nor would a link about such an adjudication – were it to exist – have much to do with what I state above. A reasonable person (not you, perhaps) can surmise from information available that whatever labor barriers exist to hinder or proscribe this type of blatantly inhumane dismissal were not much of a concern for prada – or apparently for miu miu. A court decision in Rina’s favor (far swifter than 2 years) and for meaningful damages/compensation could conceivably provide some greater future deterrent. Doubt it will happen though.
LB

No. Nor would a link about such an adjudication – were it to exist – have much to do with what I state above.

Au contraire. It would have everything to do with what you state above. For it would show that you have some clue what you are talking about – but as usual, you don’t. You are only capable of working backwards from the conclusion that “Team Japan” is always to blame in these matters, that somehow “Japan” is out to personally screw everyone. Totally predictable, more of the same ol’ same ol’ from Leitmotiv. The only surprise is that you didn’t claim that Ms. Bovrisse was singled out due to having a foreign-sounding name.
pixel_bomber

I think the real issue here is why it took them 6 months to decide she didn’t have the “Prada look”. If you are going to hire employees based on them maintaining a certain look you would think the employees would be made aware of that before investing 6 months into a company. I suspect this has less to do with Japans labor laws than it does to do with the pretentious fashion industry. Either way, if the company misled her to begin with I hope she wins her case.
Fat Tony

Leitmotiv, what part of “At this law firm, attorneys tell us that this kind of case is extremely rare.”

Meanwhile, in the United States, it is quite legal to be fired for not wearing make-up while serving customers at a restaurant. I assume that does not apply to men very often. So which system is the one that is bagging women who don’t want to change their looks?

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/may/20/1m20stetz014224-waitress-says-bare-face-led-firing/

Your motif (droning on about anything negative that happens in Japan as representative of “Japanese” ills) is indeed very lite.
leitmotiv

@LB

Au contraire. It would have everything to do with what you state above.

Usually your obfuscations are a little more coherent. Everyone here would probably agree that there exist written laws in Japan prohibiting employers from making unfair/baseless dismissals. But this prada case and other similar baseless dismissals, in defiance of laws that are written, are apparently allowed (enabled) because of minimal significant cost barriers to the infringer and/or significant cost barriers to the plaintiff. This reality alone is the basis of my comment above – not what Japan labor law specifically states (which you understand well but wish to obfuscate nonetheless). To help you and your lockstep minions understand further, it’s beyond debate that Japan has written laws which explicitly prohibit kidnapping. Yet Japan policies are receiving more and more criticism for some pretty blatant cases of authorities allowing child abductors to have unlimited safe harbor in Japan – even following Japanese judicial review, and even in cases where neither party is Japanese. Upon learning of this situation, reasonable people tend to conclude that something is amiss in this area, and that criticism/reform may be in order. Unreasonable people, using your logic stated above, would claim that nothing is wrong and that all such criticisms and calls for reform are immediately and 100% moot, at least because Japan has explicit written laws against kidnapping which can be cited. Absurd.

The rest of your scatter-shot comments re “Team Japan”, Japan out to get everyone, dismissal of european-named Bovrisse by a european company due to a non-Japanese name (LOL, wut?), etc are amusing, but also hyperbolic and unhinged. I suggest ritalin.

@ Metabo Tony

What does the US have to do with this? If you haven’t done so already, take a moment to note the title of the blog. Or point out above where I make a comparison to something in the US on this topic.
LB

dismissal of european-named Bovrisse by a european company due to a non-Japanese name
It was a Japanese company.

I suggest ritalin.
And I suggest trying one of the reading for comprehension courses out there. A simple one, to start with. Perhaps something based on Dr. Seuss books would fit your level. Anything harder might tax you too much. After that, a few weeks with “Debating for Dummies” to sharpen your skills there. Then, and only then, when you have finally managed to comprehend what people around you are saying and are able to carry on a conversation with grown ups, please GFYS.

Colin

I wouldn’t consider her unattractive. I mean, she’s not necessarily my type, and considering the video was about her ugliness I sort of mentally was trying to think of her as an ugly person, but had this video been about anything else I wouldn’t have second thought her looks as ugly. (awkward sentence structure, but I hope you get what I’m saying)
ryuugakusei

Up to two years for a wrongful termination suit? What, is she planning on taking it to a supreme court?

Some American stores have been known to hire “models” for their stores so they can get around this sort of thing. I guess officially they are hired to be a live model in the store who also helps out by stocking clothes and ringing people up.

k

yea man called a floor model. I did it at abercombie and fitch mens in hawaii, literally did nothing and got paid for it. They changed the name to “brand reps” though so that people wouldnt think they were discriminating against ugly people.

pixel_bomber

Hah Abercrombie is a great example for relating to this case seeing as how they have payed out millions in discrimination lawsuits. They have worked hard to put “pretty” people in all of their stores but ultimately come of as an ugly and mean company in the end.

helical

I believe trials in Japan are known for being awfully long and drawn out compared to average trials of equivalent offenses or suits in other countries.

Kalidor

A quick Google search seems to reveal more to this story.

http://fashaddix.com/2010/04/rina-bovrisse-tells-us-why-she-is-suing-prada/

I suppose the court will prove how much of which versions of the story is true but the attempt at constructive dismissal that the article describes certainly doesn’t make the case seem any better.

somegirl

thanks for supplying that link, it is good to get more info on what is happening. Though I do have to say, when I was working for a Japanese company, we too were expected to buy the company’s products to make the monthly quota . Has anyone else come across that as well?

Aya

Most of the shops at 109 and Laforet are working under the same principle.
You’re required to buy your clothes and accessories only in the shop you’re working at.

tbrot

I guess one shouldn’t be surprised that Prada would behave this way towards their employees. I imagine they might not want to sell their products to ugly consumers who would not be an asset to their “image”.

As such this is as much about our value systems and society’s attitudes about what is really important. Considering how much of the world’s populations can barely afford to provide for basic necessities just to stay alive let alone be able to shop at Prada it doesn’t say much about the company or the consumers who worship at its altar.
Ａｓａ

The picture in this story just shows her face, but somebody is really messed up in the head if they don’t think she is good looking. That company really has some problems if they think she is “ugly” enough to fire her. It is so wrong to have looks be a basis for employment but I know it happens in this world. But she is not ugly.

birubo baguinzu

dude, haven’t you ever seen ” the devil wears prada”? No one is good enough! haha

toro

The saying goes “never judge a book by its cover” lol
ThyGoddess

Come on. That’s a nasty field of work full of shallow jerks who don’t see that individuals should be hired for their intelligence and skills and NOT for looks. Obviously you shouldn’t work there if you have a brain, dear.

tokyojesusfist

Individuals are hired according to what the company needs. Prada has decided that their store employees must fit the company’s image, and to that end they must have a certain level of attractiveness. Lots and lots of employers have appearance requirements of one sort or another.

If it’s wrong to deny someone a job because they don’t meet appearance standards, is it also wrong to deny me a job as a scientist because I’m not intelligent and educated enough?

ThyGoddess

And the answer here is a contract specifying the requirements and a CLEAR MENTION at the interview for the job. From the sound of it there was nothing of that. It’s not the first time Prada does this, and they do it in a sneaky way.
pixel_bomber

“If it’s wrong to deny someone a job because they don’t meet appearance standards, is it also wrong to deny me a job as a scientist because I’m not intelligent and educated enough?”
_________________

Uh yes it is wrong to deny you a job on the basis of education or intelligence if it takes them 2 years to tell you. One would assume that they decide your education and intelligence is sufficient in the interview process. Did you become less educated or lose some IQ points over a couple of years? I guess then they might have a right to fire you based on those qualifications no longer being met. Did they establish a new company wide policy of higher standards and fire all employees at or below the same education and intelligence as yourself? I mean that would be fair somewhat fair as opposed to singling you out for some violation out of the blue that you never knew existed.

Naru

I went to school and have a brain. I just like fashion, and work in the fashin industry. But when you get into it, you are taught and should know that looks are a part of it. You have to sell yourself, and whatever product/brand you represent. If you can’t or refuse to, then they can fire you if it was in your contract, “you uphold the brand’s reputation and look”. It sucks, and it’s wrong, but that is that industry and how we work. You are warned. I work with Japanese in the industry and have to make sure I look “Asian enough” when I work. If not, you get treated differently. It’s just how it is.

ThyGoddess

If it was in the contract, fine, you know what to expect and you agreed to it. However, from the lady’s reaction it seems it was not in her contract. Therefore, this is discrimination. Simple as that.

Asa

Does anybody have any links to news articles about this story in Japanese?
I’ll take one for the team

Dude, she is fat but I’ll take one for the team if she drops her lawsuit. Maybe after a few beers though.
RMilner

“Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.”
kimsei

I hope she wins. All this is pure bs. I agree with some of you arguing that a job needs certain standards and those might be for positions that require a Ph. D. I also agree that working a place like that requires a certain personal hygiene and clean look but if they did not like her looks from the beginning then they are out of luck. The only disappointment I had with her case is that she wants to go back to work there. WHY? WHY? Does she think that after all this everything is going back to a state of wonderful bliss. I don’t think so. My 2 cents.
YesZimbabWeCan

I am trying to get worked up.
James Bong

She was fired by a Japanese boss. In Japan. Imagine.
Jeff Yaple

Speaking of the devil wears prada,Meryl Streep is one of the most ugliest women ive ever seen.the woman in this story is NOT ugly.
Caitlin

She is beautiful! This is why our world suffers anorexia and bullemia. This is outrageous, and all Prada employes involved should be ashamed.

Matt

I love Asian women. She is incredibly attractive.

East Coast USA King

Agree with the previous post…She’s attractive & fully equipped with an hour-glass figure. I’d date her without question. I’m also a former Prada cologne consumer. Keyword being “former.”
Victoria W.

Well what do you expect from an industry that’s aesthetically conscious? I have no more sympathy for ex-models who complain about not finding work after they got to a certain age and now want to peddle beauty products on infomercials made for “real-women”. Excuse me, but those people in the fashion industy do not give a damn about real women until they’re thrown under the bus.
Hygeia

I am confused why Prada hired her if she doesn’t fit their level of attractiveness.

I find her attractive. I am not sure about the fashion world, because there are models I see who are so thin they look sickly, but I guess that is attractive? It’s hard to define attractiveness because beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Japanese Prada Employee Fired For Being Too Ugly?

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