Four ‘humiliated’ employees claim R2m damages
After failing to have their manager at a popular Gqeberha decor and arts store convicted of crimen injuria, four former employees have gone the civil route, claiming a collective R2m in damages, reports HeraldLIVE.
The four women instituted the claim against JA Floral Distributors and its former financial administrator, Natasha da Mata-Correia, for the humiliation they claim to have suffered in September 2020.
They say they were forced to divulge personal information about their menstrual cycles and told to strip down half naked after blood was found splattered in the women’s bathroom of the Fairview store.
The woman are each asking for R400 000 in damages and R100 000 for past and future medical expenses.
In papers before the Eastern Cape High Court (Gqeberha), the women allege that Da Mata-Correia forced them to divulge whether they were having their period and made them remove their underwear for inspection.
Each of the former employees claim they suffered psychological and emotional trauma and have demanded to be compensated for it.
Shortly after the incident, criminal complaints were reported against Da Mata-Correia. In June 2021, she was discharged on four charges of crimen injuria by the Magistrate’s Court.
Magistrate Estie Petzer found that the four employees had repeatedly changed their versions during the trial and that there were too many holes in their testimony.
After the September 2020 incident, all four employees left their positions without tendering formal resignations, while Da Mata-Correia was fired.
In their formal pleas in response to the civil claim, JA Floral and Da Mata-Correia admitted that one of the women was instructed to inquire from the female staff, including the other three claimants, whether they had messed the bathroom.
Both JA Floral’s management and Da Mata-Correia categorically denied that the four women were ordered to remove their underwear for inspection.
In their respective particulars of claim, all four women claimed their rights to privacy and dignity were infringed, saying they had suffered psychological injury.
HeraldLIVE reports that a trial date has not yet been set.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
