Alda Simoes dreamed of a fresh start when she landed a position with Swiss sofa designer De Sedes within the prestigious Harrods department store. After years with another company, she envisioned a step up, a brighter future for herself and her son.
That hope shattered within weeks. Alda found herself trapped in a grueling cycle, relentlessly asked to cover shifts, ultimately forced to work fourteen consecutive days. She felt stripped of her dignity, describing the experience as being “treated like a slave.”
When she finally voiced her distress, the consequences were swift and brutal. Alda was terminated, dismissed in a matter of minutes with no explanation, and denied a commission of £800 she had rightfully earned. Her world imploded.
The sudden loss of income was devastating. Alda lost her home, struggled to afford basic necessities, and made the heartbreaking decision to send her son to live with family. The financial strain was compounded by the emotional toll of betrayal and injustice.
After a protracted legal battle, filled with court hearings and appeals, a judgment finally came in January. Alda was awarded £16,000 – a sum meant to restore some measure of stability and acknowledge the wrong done to her. But the victory remains hollow.
Despite the court order stipulating payment within one month, the money has not materialized. Alda is still waiting, still struggling, and has now lost yet another home while navigating the frustrating aftermath of the ruling.
Her case, though now referenced in legal textbooks and contributing to workers’ rights precedents, offers her little comfort. The stress and uncertainty have taken a severe toll on her health, leaving her with a persistent “weight on her heart.”
De Sedes, initially operating within Harrods, has since relocated. The company had opened with insufficient staffing, creating the conditions that led to Alda’s exploitation. Managers routinely requested she work beyond legally permissible limits, ignoring regulations established to protect employees.
Alda initially sought guidance from an employment rights group, Acas, before being dismissed. The abruptness of her firing left her reeling, not only from the financial devastation but also from the loss of friendships forged with her colleagues.
The awarded compensation was intended to cover both her lost earnings and potential future income. Yet, as months pass, Alda’s story serves as a stark reminder that legal victories don’t always translate into tangible relief, and the fight for justice can be a long and arduous one.
