Mum Samantha Sellen refused job at Swaines in Tenterden because she has a young child

by Lauren Abbott

A mum has spoken out after saying a shop boss refused to consider her for a job because she had a young child.

Samantha Sellen, said she popped her head round the door of Swaines in Tenterden to ask about a job as a sales assistant in the menswear emporium.

The mother-of-one, who lives in St Benet’s Way, Tenterden, said: “I stepped into Swaines’ doorway to ask about the hours of the job that was advertised and spoke to the owner David Swaine who told me that I wouldn’t be suitable.

Samantha was left stunned by Mr Swaine's response
Samantha was left stunned by Mr Swaine's response

“I just couldn’t believe it when he said to me ‘I’m sorry, I probably wouldn’t employ you because you have a child and you would probably have to take time of when she was sick.’”

Samantha, who wants to return to work as her three-year-old daughter Aleisha starts school in September, said: “I was in a state of shock about what had been said. Nothing like that has even been said to me before but now the anger is building up.”

The 28-year-old added: “I have always been brought up to work for a living. I started with a paper round at the age of 11 and then did apple-picking as a teenager.

“I want to go back to work to give my daughter a brighter future and to be a role model for her when she grows up, so she can see that you can be a mother and work too.”

Samantha’s partner Andrew Pye, 38, has just got a new job working in administration of the Child Support Agency in Hastings, and the move prompted her to think about restarting her own career.

David Swaine was 'caught off guard'
David Swaine was 'caught off guard'

Before Samantha became a mum she worked as a shop assistant in Tesco, Tenterden, for five years, afterwards switching to a career as a carer, working for Mears Care, based in North Street, Ashford and the Nurse Plus agency.

She said: “I felt like I wanted to speak out to highlight to other parents that this has happened and that they shouldn’t accept it.”

The 65-year-old owner of Swaines, David Swaine, said: “It’s actually true and I can’t deny that I said it but I would like to apologise to the young lady.”

He said that he had been caught off-guard by the impromptu conversation in the doorway of his shop and added: “As the job is in our menswear department I had it in my mind to give the opportunity to a school leaver who could learn the menswear trade, so that’s why I said it.”

Mr Swaine began work as a Saturday boy in his grandfather’s shop Swaines, which was established in 1935, starting there full-time in 1972.

He said that he had already had a lot of inquiries for the job and didn’t want to disappoint Samantha. He said: “It was a loose inquiry and I hadn’t given it much thought.”

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