The Australian Department Store, David Jones has been hit with a 37 million Australian dollar million lawsuit six weeks after its chief executive; Mark Mclnnes resigned in the wake of physical harassment.
On Monday, David Jones publicist, Kristy Fraser Kirk filed a case against Mclnnes in the Federal Court of Australia claiming that she and four other employees had been physically harassed by Mclnnes.
The statement alleges that Mclnnes had attempted to kiss and touch Fraser Kirk, in addition to using physically explicit language around her and sending a campaign of text messages and e-mails asking for physical favors.
Fraser-Kirk also alleges that an ingrained culture of physical harassment within the company contravened her right to a safe workplace. She also revealed that, “David Jones is engaged in deceptive and misleading conduct under the Australian Trade Practices Act”.
The case is scheduled for a hearing on Aug. 30.
Both the company and its directors will defend the claims vigorously,” David Jones said. In the statement, the company reaffirmed its after-tax profit guidance of 5 to 10 percent for both fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2011 as advised on June 18.