Former Claire’s employee says store’s ear piercing policy is a ‘cruel practice’ that pressures children

‘I believe in upholding a child’s right to bodily integrity at all costs’

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A former Claire's employee has claimed that the store's ear piercing policy can make children who don't want their ears pierced feel "pressured" and "heavily distressed".

Up until recently, Raylene Marks worked for the American retailer at one of its branches in Alberta, Canada.

However, the retail worker decided to hand in her notice when her manager informed her that she should have pierced a seven-year-old girl's ears, despite the child's evident protestations.

In an open letter shared on Facebook, Ms Marks explained that the girl had been brought in to the store by her mother to have a "double", which is when both ears are pierced at the same time in the case of nervous children.

"She was putting a great deal of pressure on her daughter to go through with the piercing," Ms Marks wrote with regards to the girl's mother.

"This child was articulate, smart, and well aware of herself and her body. She expressed that she didn't want us touching her, that we were standing too close, that she was feeling uncomfortable.

"She made it clear she no longer wanted to get her ears pierced."

Once she realised the extent to which the girl did not want her ears pierced, Ms Marks said that she wouldn't participate in the procedure.

According to the retail worker, the girl "pleaded and sobbed" for half an hour, before her mother eventually decided to take her home without her ears pierced.

When Ms Marks was later questioned about the incident by her manager, she was informed that she "would have had no choice" but to carry out the piercing.

"I wanted to know how far we were supposed to take this policy of piercing non-consenting children. My manager did not hesitate to respond, 'Yes, you do the piercing'," Ms Marks stated.

Following her interaction with her manager, Ms Marks handed in her notice at Claire's.

The Canadian then conducted research into the company's piercing policy, discovering no mention "of the use of physical restraint by the parent, or the employee's right to refuse an ear piercing if their concerns are for the emotional welfare of the child".

Ms Marks described the policy as "deeply flawed" and "cruel", explaining that it helps to "facilitate situations" where children may feel emotional distressed and pressured.

"I believe in upholding a child’s right to bodily integrity at all costs, and I will not be an adult that commits an indignity to a child."

Since publishing her open letter online, Ms Marks said that Claire's has contacted her and "expressed intentions to revise the policy".

"Over 40 years, Claire’s has pierced more than 100 million ears. Customer wellbeing is our main priority and our existing ear piercing policy ensures that if a child is distressed or resisting the procedure, Claire’s employees can refuse to continue the piercing," a spokesperson for the retailer tells The Independent.

"In relation to the ear piercing incident involving the former employee Raylene Marks, we believe she acted appropriately and in line with our policy by refusing to do the piercing."

The spokesperson says that the company is investigating the specific store in question, and will take "appropriate corrective action".

"We have also reiterated and clarified the wording of the existing policy to ensure that its intent is clear to all store managers and employees," they add.