There's something about the sports bra -- cotton, concealing, utterly utilitarian -- that really seems to get people hot and bothered.Female soccer star Brandi Chastain famously stripped her way to infamy. (Never mind that she was already a record-breaking midfielder on the U.S. women's World Cup team, that she had just scored a game-winning goal against China.)
Now, ten years later, a female staffer at Brides magazine was fired just before the holidays for baring hers to work colleagues, according to the New York Post.
The Brides editor in question had just gotten a breast augmentation, and two of her colleagues asked to see the results, so she closed the door to her office and unbuttoned her shirt to reveal the unsuspecting clothing item that's launched more than its fair share of lawsuits.
"It was within the confines of my office, behind closed doors," the ex-employee told the Post. "There was no nudity involved. They were personal friends who I had known for years."
However, two days later HR appeared, and she and her new, improved rack were escorted out -- without a severance package. The company is reportedly fighting to deny her unemployment benefits. Now, she's reportedly weighing a countersuit.
Her lawyer, Daniel Mareck, told the paper the action was "unbelieveable [sic] when you consider the kind of images that are in Condé Nast magazines."
Though it seems office politics may be to blame, at least in part: According to the report, after consulting firm McKinsey re-orged the magazine empire, there was "friction" between factions of the Brides staff, and a co-worker, upon hearing about the chest-baring, beat a path straight to HR.
Hmm. What do you chalk it up to? Sabotage, discrimination, inappropriate work behavior -- or a little of all three?
While you debate, we'll be strapping into our sports bras in solidarity.
More Good Stuff Around the Web
Why are Folgers ads always so sexist? (The Frisky)
AUGH! Freakishly large babies! (The Chive)
Should You Have Sex at the Office? (Lemondrop)
What your tattoo says about you (Cracked)
Though it seems office politics may be to blame, at least in part: According to the report, after consulting firm McKinsey re-orged the magazine empire, there was "friction" between factions of the Brides staff, and a co-worker, upon hearing about the chest-baring, beat a path straight to HR.
Hmm. What do you chalk it up to? Sabotage, discrimination, inappropriate work behavior -- or a little of all three?
While you debate, we'll be strapping into our sports bras in solidarity.
More Good Stuff Around the Web
Why are Folgers ads always so sexist? (The Frisky)
AUGH! Freakishly large babies! (The Chive)
Should You Have Sex at the Office? (Lemondrop)
What your tattoo says about you (Cracked)











Comments:
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Saturday 09 January
By me
My guess is they probably wanted her gone anyway so they looked for anything they could use to get her fired.
Reply
Tuesday 12 January
By Dianne
This is just another issue making news because of gender.Give it a break already.When men have the jewls snipped to prevent pregnancy they stay home an ice the jewls, god forbid if they have a bag of ice on the jewls while at work. Im sure that would result in a sexual harrasment charge. Give it a break, stay home and show your friends the results.If her co-workers where such good friends they would have visited you at the hospital or at home, there you could of show them your sports bra.
Tuesday 12 January
By fred
SHE WILL FILE A LAWSUIT AND RECEIVE MILLIONS...
Monday 11 January
By tie
I am so sick of this politically correct world. This is BS and the company knows it. I hope she does file a counter suit and wins hundreds of thousands for a wrongful termination. Tell me...who was harmed here??? No one...absolutely no one...the two women ASKED to see her boobs..therefore no sexual harrassment....NOTHING..no harm no foul
Reply
Monday 11 January
By archer6831
She will win a lawsuit, simply because, she didnt actually show her bare boobs, and the person that filed the complaint wasnt actually present to see it. She heard about it and went to HR. So, they fired her based on hear/say.
Monday 11 January
By Jim
Where did it say in the article that it was two women who asked to see her boobs? Although I think it was a harmless thing that she did behind closed doors, men have been chastized and fired for doing less than that and so I guess either the company felt there had to be some consistency or they just wanted her gone anyway. But, what's strange is how did HR find out?
Monday 11 January
By syl1969
Make that millions!!! What a bunch of BS
Tuesday 12 January
By arlington1957
Y'all built this City!
Ain't it sweet.
Thursday 14 January
By Aaron
This act is beyond ridiculous, sue the balls or lips off whomever is responsible and fire her so-called A-H friends!
Monday 11 January
By tie
I am so sick of this politically correct world. This is BS and the company knows it. I hope she does file a counter suit and wins hundreds of thousands for a wrongful termination. Tell me...who was harmed here??? No one...absolutely no one...the two women ASKED to see her boobs..therefore no sexual harrassment....NOTHING..no harm no foul
Reply
Monday 11 January
By terry
This had nothing to do with political correctness. It had to do with vengenance and a company that somehow used it to get rid of an employee.
Tuesday 12 January
By Mary
She was at work. Work implies that someone else is paying her to do her job and unless showing her boobs to coworkers is it - then she should get fired and shown the door asap.
Monday 11 January
By Silent Josh
Seems clear cut to me. Friends or not, some things you just don't do at work. If they were long time friends, why not wait until after work and showthem somewhere else? Ask any HR person, doesn't matter if it was behind closed doors or not, honestly, closed doors is usually a worse scenario from and HR perspective.
Reply
Monday 11 January
By iceman
What a prude!
Monday 11 January
By jsscglass
Unless you are in management, people just do not get it. While at work, nobody is your friend. Period.
Monday 11 January
By Sandy
I agree with you Josh! If these were close friends they could go in the bar restroom after work. Yes, it's not the worse thing that could have been done but work is not the place to be revealing your new boobs or underwear. Unless, of course you work as a prostitute or stripper! Also, the article states "work colleagues" were these men, women or both. That may change things for some supporters. Just a thought!
Monday 11 January
By kay
I agree, very inappropriate behavior at work. Why didn't she wait until she got home? What basis would she have a lawsuit? That's one of the problems when women get fake breasts they feel a need to show everyone. Obviously, someone she gave the show to, ratted her out. Sorry, girl should've kept your clothes on.
Monday 11 January
By BromR
Unfortunately Josh is correct. There is a time and place for everything and the workplace is not the place to discuss let alone show newly augmented breasts even if they are still covered with a bra. Face it folks, like it or not the opinions of a few rule the majority and we must all follow the rules of PC. And lest we forget was management...didn't the article say she was an editor? That puts HR (and the company) in the position of "You should have known better..." It sucks, but sometimes you gotta use common sense, all it takes is one goody goody in the office to make the rest of our lives' hell!
Monday 11 January
By captain midnight
Imagine if a man did this, there can not be double standards
Reply
Monday 11 January
By Conrad
God forebid that a man show his boobs to someone else behind closed doors.