Fashion firms desert student website over bullying claims

TWO high-profile retailers have suspended their deals with student discount firm UNiDAYS while its chief executive is investigated over claims of bullying and sexual harassment.

Fashion giants Boohoo.com and PrettyLittleThing took the decision after Josh Rathour was accused of mistreating female staff in an online petition.

The petition, entitled ‘End Misogyny, Bullying and Sexual Harassment at UNiDAYS’, appeared on the workplace campaigns site Organise.org.uk and by last night had gained almost 1,000 signatures.

Mr Rathour, 36, denies any wrongdoing but UNiDAYS, which offers discounts to around three million British students affiliated to its website and app, has launched an independent investigation.

Announcing the decision on Twitter, PrettyLittleThing said: ‘In light of recent events at UNiDAYS we have temporarily suspended our discounts via their site until further notice.’

It confirmed that its parent company Boohoo.com was following suit, although men’s range boohooMAN last night was on the UNiDAYS website.

A spokesman for UNiDAYS said: ‘We are aware of, and fully respect, Boohoo and PrettyLittleThing’s decision to temporarily suspend their discount pending the investigation.’