A model, Rachel Rickert, 27, has filed a complaint against Hyundai after she claimed she was fired wile representing the brand at the New York International Auto Show in April for having her period.
She said she made it clear while working that she needed a toilet break, but was denied to leave because she was told it was too busy a time, and could not go ahead to change her underwear and tights, plus her tampon. She then told her talent rep, Erika Seifred what had happened and would later receive a text from Seifred asking her to take the night off.
Instead of her to take the night off, Ms Rickert took a page from the book of Elizabeth Warren and resisted the move by Hyundai and go to work the next day, April 14, and it looks like every other day.
On April 15, she got a call from Erika, saying that Hyundai heard about her menstruation and no longer wants her to work on the show.
Speaking to BBC, Ms Rickert said;
I was completely puzzled,I was really upset. I started crying... I book out shows, and I miss other opportunities. So I was just like - 'What? This is not right.
I'm not going to let people treat women this way. It's a natural thing that we have, our periods, and it's not like I want special treatment because of it. I just want to be respected as a human and to be able to go to the restroom. And not to be considered a bad employee because I needed to use the bathroom
She has now made a discrimination claim to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Hyundai and Ms Seifred's management firm, Experiential Talent.
Speaking on Ms Rickert claims, Hyundai said it is yet to receive the EEOC filings, but it is looking into what happened. A spokesperson from Hyundai said;
We take any complaint like this seriously and will respond appropriately once we have a chance to investigate the merits of the claim.