Sephora faces allegations of discrimination against women, particularly regarding maternity leave. Executives share experiences of feeling marginalized and facing burnout after announcing pregnancies. A report indicates that many women struggle to reintegrate into their roles post-maternity leave, with claims of career setbacks. Despite Sephora’s high gender equality score, personal accounts reveal a different reality, leading one executive to seek damages for alleged employer misconduct. Legal proceedings may extend until 2026, highlighting systemic issues within the company.
Discrimination and Challenges at Sephora
“It felt like I had vanished,” reflects one mother, highlighting the struggles faced by women at Sephora, a prominent cosmetics and fragrance retailer. Two executives shared their experiences of discrimination upon returning from maternity leave, a practice the LVMH-owned brand has denied.
Personal Accounts of Harassment and Burnout
Sandra, a pseudonym for one of the executives, spoke to her lawyer, Me Avi Bitton, about the adverse treatment she faced after announcing her pregnancy. “As soon as I revealed my news, the dynamics shifted negatively,” she recounted. Now a mother of two and a project manager located at the Neuilly-sur-Seine headquarters, the 39-year-old has been on sick leave since her maternity leave ended in September 2023.
Each year, Sephora sees around 300 maternity leaves and 240 parental leaves taken in France, according to a 2023 report. The company notes that parenthood is frequently cited as a leading cause of absence, particularly in a workplace where 70% of the executives in Neuilly are women, making up 90% of the overall workforce at Sephora.
Having worked at Sephora since 2017, Sandra claims that her pregnancy announcement was the beginning of a series of humiliating experiences, ultimately resulting in burnout. “While they never directly said my pregnancy was an issue, everything shifted once I announced it,” she shares, still visibly affected by the ordeal.
Another executive, who wishes to remain anonymous, noted that upon returning from maternity leave in early 2022, she felt completely sidelined. “After being a part of the company for twelve years, I suddenly felt invisible. Coupled with hormonal changes and antidepressants, it was a time I would not wish upon anyone,” she explained.
A study from the Association for the Employment of Executives found that 44% of women returning from maternity leave experience challenges reintegrating into their roles. According to Pierre Lamblin, the organization’s director of studies, many women executives feel that announcing a pregnancy can be detrimental to their career progression.
Although Sephora declined to comment on ongoing legal matters, the company asserts that it maintains practices that eliminate discrimination. On its website, they proudly display a gender equality index score of 95 out of 100 for 2023. However, Sandra’s experience tells a different story. By January 2023, she noted a complete breakdown in her working relationships, which became intolerable.
In March, she received her first negative performance review, and a pre-approved request for a job transfer within the LVMH group was denied. Just before her maternity leave ended, management informed her of a new role with significantly reduced responsibilities. By January 2024, after seeking help, a psychiatrist diagnosed her with burnout.
Me Bitton, Sandra’s lawyer, commented on the commonality of such cases, noting that prior to announcing a pregnancy, individuals often receive promotions and favorable evaluations, only to face stagnation and negative feedback afterward. The CGT union representatives, when contacted, mentioned they supported the anonymous executive but were unaware of other similar situations.
Though few stories come to light, the lack of union representation at the headquarters may contribute to this silence. In Sandra’s case, an unsuccessful attempt at mediation occurred in October, leading to a court hearing that may not take place until late 2026. She is now seeking to terminate her employment contract on grounds of employer fault and is asking for over 120,000 euros in damages.