Business · Companies · 14 hrs ago
Tribunal dismisses M&S bra fitter's racial discrimination case
Elif Archbold accused M&S colleague Lesley Payne of racial bullying at the retailer's Stirling store.
Archbold, who is Turkish, said Payne's criticism and requests for her to repeat herself felt discriminatory.
The two women worked as specialist bra fitters, and their lingerie department had a strained working relationship.
Their disagreements included a dispute over working hours and another over break times, and mediation did not resolve their conflict.
A Dundee employment tribunal found the treatment was not racially motivated, describing the relationship as dysfunctional and marked by distrust and misunderstandings.
The tribunal dismissed Archbold's case against M&S.
A Dundee Employment Tribunal dismissed Elif Archbold’s racial discrimination case against Marks & Spencer.
Archbold, a Turkish bra fitter, said she was bullied by colleague Lesley Payne.
The tribunal found that the treatment was not racially motivated.
It said the dispute arose from a dysfunctional workplace relationship marked by conflict, distrust and misunderstandings.
The women worked in the lingerie department at M&S’s Stirling store.
- Who
- Elif Archbold brought the case against Marks & Spencer, alleging bullying by colleague Lesley Payne.
- What
- The tribunal dismissed Archbold’s racial discrimination case, finding the treatment was not racially motivated.
- When
- The tribunal’s decision was reported on November 9, 2026. The workplace disputes included incidents in November 2023 and March 2024.
- Where
- The case was heard at a Dundee Employment Tribunal; the colleagues worked at M&S’s Stirling store.
- Why
- The tribunal found the conflict stemmed from a dysfunctional workplace relationship, not racial motivation.
Elif Archbold
Employment tribunal
Claim of racial discrimination
Elif Archbold
Archbold said Payne’s conduct felt like racial bullying and discrimination.
Employment tribunal
The tribunal found the treatment was not racially motivated.
Cause of the conflict
Elif Archbold
Archbold alleged she was bullied by Payne.
Employment tribunal
The tribunal said the relationship was marked by interpersonal conflict, mutual distrust and misunderstandings.
Archbold started working as a customer assistant at M&S’s Stirling store.
A heated verbal confrontation took place after Payne mistakenly believed Archbold had requested more hours.
A dispute arose over break timings, and a colleague reported that Archbold had erupted at Payne in front of a customer.
The Daily Mail reported that the tribunal had dismissed Archbold’s case.
- Claimant
- Elif Archbold, 56
- Respondent
- Marks & Spencer
- Colleague named in the claim
- Lesley Payne
- Workplace
- M&S Stirling store
- Tribunal location
- Dundee
- Archbold’s start at M&S
- 2008
What people are saying
like racial bullying and discrimination
dysfunctional workplace relationship
characterised by interpersonal conflict, which led to mutual distrust and misunderstandings
if she wanted to work those hours she should work in [the] food department