FrostFrench, the label founded by Sadie Frost and Jemima French has been ordered to pay out £5,000 to an ex-employee who claims she was unfairly dismissed because of her race.

Aba Yankah who is of African origin was initially hired via a recruitment company last November as a temp for the company’s store in London’s Burlington Arcade. After a number of friendly calls with the stores shop manager, the sales assistant claims everything changed on her first day when they met for the first time.

Speaking to an employment tribunal Ms Yankah described how after three hours on the job, she was asked to go and work in another shop in which she had to clean rodent droppings in the basement and was sacked the next day after being accused of mucking around. According to Ms Yankah,

‘The only new information discovered in meeting me was my race and colour.”

FrostFrench have denied the allegations but the panel at the Central London Employment Tribunal said that although racial discrimination could not be proven outright, the company did not offer a satisfactory explanation for her dismissal and awarded Ms Yankah £5,000 in compensation for a loss of earnings and injury to feelings.

A spokesman for the label said in a statement,

“FrostFrench is a multi-cultural company with a strong commitment to racial equality. We would like to wish Aba Yankah every success in the future. FrostFrench won’t appeal the decision and cannot comment further due to legalities.”

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