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Abercrombie Sued For Second Time Over Clash Between Its "Look Policy" and Wearing Hijab

By Howard M. Friedman

For the second time in a year, the EEOC has brought a lawsuit against clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch over the conflict between its "Look Policy" for its personnel and the need of Muslim women to wear a headscarf (hijab). The EEOC announced on Wednesday that it had filed suit in a California federal district court on behalf of an 18-year old whose application for a job stocking merchandise at an Abercrombie Kids store in Milpitas, California was rejected. According to the complaint, the applicant wore a headscarf to the job interview. The Abercrombie manager asked her if she was a Muslim and required to wear a headscarf. When she replied she was, the manager marked "not Abercrombie look" on her application. In September 2009, the EEOC sued Abercrombie in an Oklahoma federal district court for rejecting a prospective employee because she wore a hijab. (See prior posting.) Also in February 2010, a complaint was filed with the EEOC on behalf of a Muslim stockroom worker who was fired from Hollister (an Abercrombie subsidiary) in San Mateo, California, because she insisted on wearing her hijab. (See prior posting.)

Full post as published by Religion Clause on September 03, 2010 (boomark / email).