Staff members at a popular Cork sports shop are subject to searches from management, including being made to lift their tops "just sufficient to view the stomach area", due to an increased threat of theft at the store.
The search rule, in place at JD Sports on Patrick Street in Cork, has been causing issues among workers with one source telling CorkBeo that it "felt like they were treating us like animals".
While a rule has been in place for some time on checking bags and jackets upon leaving, recently management began giving "refresher training" as security was ramped up as the threat of theft increased.
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While the searches do not involve physical touching, workers are told to empty their bags, take off their jackets and lift their tops to show their stomachs to a manager before leaving. They can also be told to roll up their trouser legs and sleeves as well as roll their socks down.
Such searches have been taking place in a number of other JD Sports stores in Ireland for a number of years.
A former employee who previously worked in a Dublin store explained to CorkBeo that the practice was "very embarrassing".
A source told the publication that staff in the Cork store had been informed recently that they would be subjected to the rules due to "increased levels of theft" and that managers received a "refresher" training course on the policies, which outlined how a common manner of stealing items is to tie them around their waist.
The source explained: "They used to search bags and jackets, they'd have to turn them inside out, and that was every day when they were leaving.
"Recently people had to pull up their T-shirts a bit and show their back and front. There was a recent stock take, which showed some stuff missing, and that's when the search policy was upped. People weren't happy about it."
Another added: "It felt like they were treating us like animals. It didn't feel fair. It felt like they were violating our privacy.
"The age demographic is young, and some people working there are under 18."
A copy of a contract obtained by CorkBeo showed that all company employees are subject to bag searches before leaving any premises.
It said that those who were "unreasonably refusing to submit to a search" will be "dealt with through the disciplinary procedure and may lead to your dismissal".
The contract reads: "Clothing searches should be undertaken off the shop floor during trading hours, preferable under the view of the company CCTV equipment, and near to the exit doors at the end of trading, again under the view of company CCTV recording equipment for auditing purposes.
"If a store only has single-sex management, then another person of the same sex must be present to witness any search in addition to the management."
The measure isn't applied if it clashes with someone's religious beliefs.
The employee contract outlines the following procedures:
- Bags should be emptied by the owner
- Coats should be taken off and the pockets and sleeves should be turned inside out
- Trouser bottoms should be lifted to the knee and socks should be rolled down
- Trouser pockets should be emptied and turned inside out
- Trousers should be pulled right across the leg
- The remaining top layers of clothing are to be individually raised just sufficiently to view the stomach area
- Sleeves should be rolled up
JD Sports confirmed the rules when contacted and added that management is "fully trained" and that searches are "strictly non-contact".
A spokesperson said: "In common with others in the retail sector, JD informs colleagues when they join that they may be subject to clothing and bag searches prior to leaving any company premises – including clear guidelines that these should be carried out ideally by a member of management and by a person of the same sex.
"If a store only has single-sex management, then another person of the same sex must be present. All managers are fully trained in these guidelines including that a clothing search is strictly non-contact.”
Jamie Murphy of the Independent Workers Union in Cork city called the situation "disgraceful".
"To be blunt about it, it's disgraceful. There are certain practices that can almost be excused depending on a certain shop. Maybe in some, you might have to turn your bag inside out if you're working there. It can be understandable in some cases.
"But if you're having to show skin in your place of work that can be degrading. A lot of people who work in retail might be younger, and I'd urge everyone to make sure they know their rights.
"A measure like this takes a lot of autonomy away from workers. They should be able to say no to this."
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