The family of Janet Damiro, a 71-year-old cleaner recently sacked by the London School of Economics (LSE), has broken its silence on the controversy surrounding her termination, condemning what they describe as misleading media narratives and a lack of context in online discourse.
In a statement issued to PUNCH Online, Janet's daughter, Aina Damiro, offered a detailed account of the incident that led to her mother's dismissal, asserting that the situation has been "blown out of proportion."
According to Aina, the incident in question occurred in February during the final minutes of her mother's morning shift when Janet found a bracelet on the floor. She reportedly picked it up intending to turn it in, but inadvertently forgot. The bracelet remained untouched in Janet's coin wallet, which was stored in her locker at the university.
"When approached about the bracelet a few days later, she was honest and cooperative. She retrieved it immediately and explained what had happened. There was no denial or attempt to hide it," Aina explained.
The family is pushing back strongly against what they see as an unfair portrayal of Janet's actions. They insist the situation was a genuine mistake, not an act of theft or misconduct, and described the university's response as "a disproportionate action lacking compassion."
Janet had reportedly worked at LSE for several years, and her family believes her long-standing service should have been taken into account, especially given her age and nearing retirement.
"To see her name and image used to suggest wrongdoing is not only unfair but deeply hurtful. This was an innocent mistake that has been misrepresented in a way that raises questions about how older workers, particularly women of colour in lower-paid roles, are treated," the family said.
The family added that Janet had granted an interview to Metro UK in hopes of shedding light on the challenges faced by workers like her, rather than becoming the target of vilification.
"We hope the public and media will reconsider how they are framing this story," they said, calling on institutions to show greater support for vulnerable and long-serving employees.
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