Victoria Beckham's fashion brand sued by worker who 'suffered hand injury after working 15-hour days'

Pattern cutter Kristina Kubiliene claims she developed carpal tunnel syndrome as a result of working for clothing brand

Olivia Petter
Tuesday 28 April 2020 12:31 BST
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Victoria Beckham‘s eponymous fashion brand is being sued by a former employee who claims she developed carpal tunnel syndrome as a result of working for the company.

Kristina Kubiliene spent almost eight years working at the high-end British label as a pattern cutter and “absolutely loved” her job, according to her legal representative.

Ms Kubilene alleges that she worked up to 15 hours a day for seven days in the lead-up to New York Fashion Week.

The pattern cutter claims that sustaining the “repetitive” and “awkward” movements that were required for her role has left her with a severe injury that means she is now unable to work.

“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 carpel tunnel syndrome to advance rapidly in hands and wrists,” said industrial disease lawyer Natasha Moyeed, who is representing Ms Kubilene at Slater and Gordon.

“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.”

Moyeed explained that Ms Kubilene’s job required lifting rolls of fabric, weighing 20 to 35kg, and then laying out and pinning the fabric to patterns.

“Once pinned she would shrink the fabric with an industrial iron, again very heavy. This procedure would take 30 to 60 minutes. Next, she would cut the fabric, which required significant pressure and accuracy holding with her left hand and cutting with her right. This task took up to three hours depending on the garment.”

Ms Kubilene’s normal working hours were 10am till 6pm, but in the run-up to New York Fashion Week, where Victoria Beckham debuted its latest collections until very recently, her workload increased to up to 15 hours a day, seven days a week, without regular breaks or rest, Moyeed claimed.

“During these times her hands and wrists were so sore she needed painkillers to work.”

Moyeed added that Victoria Beckham Limited “failed to put measures in place to look after Kristina and prevent this from happening”.

Last year Ms Kubilene had an operation to relieve her carpel tunnel syndrome, which the NHS describes as “pressure on a nerve in your wrist” that causes tingling, numbness and pain in your hand and fingers.

“She couldn’t work after the surgery she left her role as she was unable to return to work,” Moyeed continued.

“She is still unable to work and has such a weak grip she needs help around the home to do basic tasks. It is not known when, if ever, she will be able to return to a similar role, or any kind of employment.”

Victoria Beckham founded her namesake fashion brand in 2008 and has offices in London and New York.

News of Ms Kubilene’s legal action comes after Victoria Beckham was heavily criticised for furloughing approximately 30 of its staff due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Victoria Beckham says she felt 'humbled' after FaceTiming NHS staff

Speaking about the matter on Good Morning Britain last week, host Piers Morgan said: “Talking about altruism and generosity, how nice it was to read over the weekend that Victoria Beckham has decided to furlough 30 of the staff of her failing fashion business – the one that makes no money, that loses money year after year, the one that’s been bailed out until now by her fabulously rich husband, David Beckham.”

Morgan’s co-host Susanna Reid came to Beckham’s defence, however, saying: “Well, hang on, fashion businesses are equivalent businesses to anything else. The furlough scheme does not specify that it’s for essential business.”

The Independent has contacted Victoria Beckham Ltd for comment.

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