Compensation for woman forced to wear bunny ears as penalty for missing sales targets

A 61-year-old Japanese woman was forced to wear bunny ears as a penalty for missing her sales targets, with photos of her humiliation used in company training programs.

The woman, who was not named, was employed by cosmetics maker Kanebo in south-western Oita.

She sued the company claiming mental distress after her bosses instructed her to don costumes if she did not meet her targets, including over-sized rabbit ears on one occasion. Four of her seniors took pictures of her in the outfits and used the snaps in presentation slides during training programs.

The woman claimed the company's actions had caused mental suffering that resulted in physical sickness and had demanded 3.3 million yen (£22,000, $32,600) compensation. A court upheld her complaint, but ordered the company to pay just 220,000 yen (£1,460, $2,755). According to her lawyer the firm has given her a larger sum than this.