Polo staff sue over what to wear

The Polo family is having a domestic

Polo Ralph Lauren shop assistants have sued their employer, after being forced to buy pricey Polo clothes to wear as uniforms.

Pricey Polo (for her):

Chinos: $59-75

Shirts: $59-140

Sweaters: $98-325

Navy blazer: $398

The workers said they have been compelled to spend almost half their annual salary on the latest Polo fashion simply to keep their jobs.

New staff would receive wages in advance to pay for the clothes, according to the lawyer representing the shop workers, Patrick Kitchin.

Mr Kitchin described the shop assistants as "captive customers".

"Polo has created an unfair advantage against other employers by wardrobing," he said.

Refund

Polo shop assistant Toni Young filed the complaint on behalf of herself and some of her colleagues after having spent between $8,000 (£5,145) and $10,000 a year on Polo fashion since she joined the company in 1997.

Pricey Polo (for him):

Chinos: $58-79

Shirts: $49-97

Sweaters: $69-397

Navy blazer: $795-850

Ms Young, who worked in Polo's San Francisco shop, earned a salary of about $22,000, Mr Kitchin said.

Ms Young wants the company to reimburse her for the money she spent on Polo fashion, and she wants the firm to abolish its uniform policy.

Polo Ralph Lauren declined to comment on the pending litigation.