Harrods perfume seller claims rival threw card reader at her in vicious dispute

In a high-profile incident at a luxury department store in the UK, tensions escalated among staff members at rival perfume concessions. On June 13, 2023, Natalia Pytel, an employee at Luxe Associates, experienced a confrontation with a co-worker from competitor brand Edeniste. Allegations arose that the co-worker, identified only as Evie, made derogatory remarks about the products Ms. Pytel was selling. The altercation intensified when Evie allegedly threw a PDQ card reader machine at Ms. Pytel, compelling her to seek assistance due to feeling unsafe in the workplace. Following Ms. Pytel's report of the incident, counter-claims arose against her. As a result, she was dismissed from her position on July 24, 2023, with Luxe Associates citing rudeness to a customer as the reason for her termination. Ms. Pytel, originally from Poland, then pursued an employment tribunal case against Harrods, alleging unfair dismissal and harassment. Despite her claims, the tribunal ultimately concluded that Harrods was not her employer, and her claim for unfair dismissal was invalid due to her short tenure of five months with Luxe Associates, which fell below the minimum required service of two years to lodge such a claim. The judge highlighted the absence of any proper disclosure regarding her allegations of harassment, leading to the dismissal of her claims. The explosive nature of the incident in a prestigious retail location highlighted the competitive pressures within the industry and culminated in Ms. Pytel's heightened frustration and subsequent job loss. Following the tribunal's decision, Ms. Pytel's professional journey continued, as she transitioned to a role selling makeup at another West End department store, indicating her resilience in the competitive cosmetics market.