Ann Summers wins challenge against jobs ads ban

Lingerie and sex toys retail chain, Ann Summers, has won its legal fight against a ban preventing the company advertising its staff vacancies in UK Jobcentres.

The Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) through Jobcentre Plus had imposed the ban on Ann Summers recruitment ads as under current policy the retail chain is categorised as being a part of the sex industry.

The DWP had contested the legal challenge brought earlier this year as the high street retailer sought to overturn the blanket ban on advertising vacancies.

Ann Summers lawyers fought the case on the basis that the company’s stores were not sex shops, claiming that the ban was therefore “unlawful, unfair and illogical”.

Jobcentre Plus will now be forced to review the staff vacancy ban in light of the case. High Court judge, Mr Justice Newman, refused leave to appeal the ruling.

At an earlier hearing, Mr Justice Newman, heard legal representations from the DWP arguing that it was inappropriate to advertise jobs related to the “sex or personal services” sector, and that some claimants would be uncomfortable about jobs with the Ann Summers chain. However, on hearing representation from Ann Summers’ lawyer, Justice Newman said that there would be jobseekers who would and those who would not find it embarrassing.

A spokesperson for Ann Summers claimed that up until last year there had been no problems in advertising vacancies at Jobcentres and that the ban meant that recruitment agencies were used to fill job vacancies.

The retail chain had previously lobbied unsuccessfully to have the ban lifted, and Ann Summer Chief Executive Jacqueline Gold, who had branded the situation a “farce”, hailed the win as “victory for common sense”.

(SP)