A former Sephora employee in Australia is taking the beauty retail giant to court, alleging she was unfairly dismissed for taking too many toilet breaks due to a chronic health condition.
The Allegations: Health Condition Led to Dismissal
Caitlin Myers, 29, worked as a beauty adviser at the Sephora store in Westfield Chermside, north of Brisbane, from 2017. According to a claim filed in the Federal Circuit Court and seen by The Courier Mail, she was fired in May 2022. The company stated she was "unable to meet" attendance requirements, but Ms Myers contends this was a direct result of her medical condition.
She suffers from chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), a condition with symptoms that include urinary frequency and urgency, compelling frequent visits to the toilet. Ms Myers claims the Sephora branch was aware of her diagnosis from early 2021, an assertion the company disputes.
A Hostile Work Environment
The court documents detail that Ms Myers felt pressured by managers who "questioned or challenged" her bathroom use. She alleges this happened on four occasions in 2021 and 2022, leading her to leave shifts early for fear of being sent home. Furthermore, she claims she was directed to finish early seven times during the same period because of her breaks. Sephora has denied all eleven of these alleged instances.
Ms Myers stated the "apprehension" caused by this managerial scrutiny actually worsened her symptoms, leading her to miss some rostered shifts entirely. In October 2021, she accepted a reduction to part-time hours, which an HR manager allegedly said was to support her health journey and improve attendance.
Sephora's Defence and Legal Battle
Sephora Australia Pty Ltd has strongly denied all allegations of discrimination and has requested the court dismiss the case. In its defence, the retailer states that managers were only aware Ms Myers was in pain and needed bathroom access, not of her specific CPPS diagnosis.
The company's court filings claim a manager informed Ms Myers in March 2022 that her attendance had not improved despite the part-time arrangement. They allege she was told the company could not sustain the part-time role and that she could not meet the core requirements of a beauty adviser. Sephora's legal team also states Ms Myers had the opportunity to provide more information to her employer.
Ms Myers is seeking $235,177 (approximately £185,000) in compensation, arguing the dismissal caused her to develop depression and lose income. She also claims Sephora failed to make reasonable adjustments to help her keep her job.
A mediation session is scheduled to be held in Brisbane on or before December 19. No formal hearing date has been set at this time.
