SYDNEY: David Jones has vigorously denied claims it hired a private detective to investigate the employee at the centre of a sexual harassment law suit.
The department store's general manager for corporate affairs and investor relations, Helen Karlis, categorically denied the company or its lawyers had or would engage a private detective to investigate employee Kristy Fraser-Kirk.
"Kristy Fraser-Kirk remains an employee of David Jones and we hope she returns to her job in our marketing department,” Karlis said.
“If Ms Fraser-Kirk does not wish to return to work at David Jones, we are willing to compensate her fairly for what she has been through. If she is not open to this, the company will have no alternative other than to vigorously defend the claim. David Jones will continue to try to resolve the claim fairly and reasonably.”
Fraser-Kirk filed legal proceedings in the Federal Court against David Jones, its current directors and former CEO Mark McInnes on August 2. The legal proceedings follow admissions from McInnes that he behaved “in a manner unbecoming of a chief executive” towards Fraser-Kirk at multiple business functions.
The parties are scheduled to appear before the Federal Court on August 30.