Syndicated Local

Lawsuit Filed Over Refusal Of Brazilian Wax

July 1, 2013 / 5:23 PM EDT / CBS Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A woman says she was fired when she refused to get a Brazilian wax, or perform a Brazilian wax on co-workers.

Jennifer Finley was hired last fall as an esthetician at the European Wax Center on McKnight Road.

She says she knew her job would involve hair removal, she just never expected it to include her own.

"We were going to be performing Brazilian waxes on each other, and as soon as I found out, I said I'm not going to have that done on myself."

A Brazilian wax involves hair removal from certain sensitive body parts.

According to the suit filed in civil court, Finley says she was fired when she refused to wax or be waxed by co-workers on day two of her training.

"I was willing to have different parts of my body waxed, my eyebrows. I was not willing to have a Brazilian wax.

I knew we were going to be practicing on each other, but nothing was set it stone that it was mandatory."

Finley says she took her concerns to center owner Ryan Galstein. She says Galstein fired her on the spot.

He had no comment on the pending lawsuit today.

Finley's lawyer, Janice Russell says the suit involves sexual harassment, wrongful termination, gender discrimination, and retaliation.

According to the lawsuit, Finley is seeking backpay, front pay, and other damages, along with a jury trial.