Victoria Beckham faces lawsuit from former employee

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Apr 29, 2020

Victoria Beckham’s namesake fashion brand is back in the news again after being sued by a former employee who allegedly suffered a hand injury due to long working hours.

The brand, owned and managed by the former Spice Girl, has recently faced a backlash for putting dozens of staff members on the government-funded furlough scheme despite her family being worth around £335 million.

Now, the brand’s public perception could be further threatened by a lawsuit, filed by pattern cutter Kristina Kubiliene.

According to PA Media, Kubiliene worked for the luxury label at its Hammersmith studio in west London for nearly eight years. She allegedly worked up to 15 hours a day for seven days a week in the run-up to New York Fashion Week, handling heavy fabrics and equipment.

Kubiliene left her job last year after developing carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition that causes pain, numbness and weakness in the hand and wrist.

Natasha Moyeed, from law firm Slater and Gordon, said: “Kristina worked for Victoria Beckham Limited from November 2011 to August 2019 and absolutely loved her job working at the London studio in Hammersmith.

“She was a pattern cutter and very good at this job, but because she was good she was tasked with working for long periods and with heavy fabrics.

“It was these repetitive, awkward and sustained movements which cause carpal tunnel syndrome to advance rapidly in her hands and wrists. When I last saw her she could barely open her handbag. She is unable to work and has had to undergo surgery to have any kind movement in her hands.”

According to the lawyer, Victoria Beckham Limited “failed to put measures in place to look after Kristina and prevent this from happening”.

Victoria Beckham has not yet responded to a request for comment.