Gucci charged of "inhuman" working conditions in China store
Gucci is one of the biggest luxury brands in the world, but that doesn't mean they're above mistreating their own employees. According to Women’s Wear Daily, five workers in a flagship store in Shenzhen, China submitted an open letter to the Global Times "that outlines workplace grievances, including 100 rules that regulate employee behavior.” One of these absurd rules: having to gain permission to go to the bathroom or get a drink of water. The employees told the Global Times they often work overtime without getting paid and have suffered work-related illnesses. And another former employee told the Global Times that two of her coworkers who were pregnant had to have abortions due to standing all day on their feet. WHAT?! Employees are seeking a settlement of 100,000 yuan which is approximately $15,700 for overtime payments.
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Gucci has admitted that their Shenzhen store is “mismanaged,” and they’ve replaced the senior management and assistant manager, but they refuse to pay the settlement. According to a Gucci statement: “Gucci has proactively engaged external consultants to conduct a comprehensive review to support ongoing actions that can enhance our organizational structure, the welfare and training of our people, talent recruitment and retention and other business practices in China.”
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Perhaps we’re naïve, but we’re surprised to learn that this type of behavior may be going on in a luxury boutique. It really makes us wonder about how employees are treated in the actual Gucci factories. Hopefully the company is giving this matter their full attention and will amend any wrong doing if the employee accounts are in fact legit.
