Staff working in The Perfume Shop in the Westfield Shopping Centre in Shepherds Bush have been reminded not to wear political slogans on clothing while on duty. This comes after staff were seen wearing Free Palestine badges.

Concerned customers contacted UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), having seen the staff wearing the badges. The Jewish customers felt intimidated and upset to be served by people displaying the Free Palestine badges. The slogan “Free Palestine” can be interpreted to mean “Free Palestine of Jews”.  They felt that it was entirely inappropriate for a member of staff to be making overt political statements by way of symbols attached to their clothing whilst working in the shopping centre and that these badges were both inflammatory and divisive.

UKLFI’s letters to Westfield’s owner,  Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, and to the Perfume Shop’s managing director pointed out that it was likely that Westfield and the Perfume Shop had breached the Equality Act 2010 (the “Act”) as a result of the actions of the members of staff at The Perfume Shop, who were wearing a Pro-Palestine badge while at work serving customers.

UKLFI explained that Jewish and Israeli customers, who are protected by the Act, were the subject of harassment by the store and the shopping centre, since the Free Palestine badge created  an intimidating, hostile, and offensive environment for them.

Gil Smith, managing director of The Perfume Shop responded to UKLFI:  “The Perfume Shop prides itself on being an inclusive company and we are always committed to providing a positive environment for our customers and employees that values and respects diversity, equality and inclusivity. As such, we continue to remind our employees that whilst at work they are expected to wear their staff uniform only, with no other badges or clothing with slogans or symbols. We will of course continue to monitor this and will take necessary steps to address any non- compliance.”

A spokesperson from Westfield wrote: “….No visitor to Westfield London (“WL”) should experience discrimination, intimidation or upset of any kind.  As a result, we will shortly be sending a reminder, to all retail tenants and occupiers of WL, that their staff must always maintain a professional appearance and that they must ensure that staff adhere to and reflect URW’s values of inclusivity for all.”

Caroline Turner, director of UKLFI commented; “We are pleased that Westfield and The Perfume Shop took this issue seriously, and have reminded staff to ensure that they do not display their political proclivities while serving customers.   This behaviour has a very divisive effect, and has upset many Jewish and Israeli customers.”