Looks like Abercrombie & Fitch just can’t catch a break lately — at least when they discriminate against employees who don’t fit the company’s image because they’ve committed the outrageous offense of, oh, having been born with only one arm. Or, in the latest incident, having a religion that just happens to include its own rules on proper attire. In this case, the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission is suing A&F for discrimination after it refused to hire a Muslim woman who wouldn’t remove her headscarf. “Abercrombie and Fitch should make exceptions to its policy when needed and we don’t believe it would be an undue burden on the company,” said Michelle Robertson, an EEOC lawyer.
discrimination
Abercrombie & Fitch Fined For Discriminating Against Autistic Shopper
By 9.9.09
The PR geniuses at Abercrombie & Fitch are in the news again for refusing to let a 14-year old autistic shopper have help trying on clothes. The Minnesota Department of Human Rights has fined the company $115,264 for discriminating against a person with a disability.
One-Armed Abercrombie & Fitch Worker Wins Wrongful Dismissal Case
By 8.14.09
A former UK Abercrombie & Fitch employee whose prosthetic arm didn’t comport with the store’s “look policy” has won a case against the clothier for wrongful dismissal and emotional trauma.
Hiring Consultant Warns: "No Connection Between Credit History And Job Performance"
By 8.8.09
Almost half of all employers use credit reports to judge job applicants, even though credit histories have no relation to job performance. Personal finance goofs are only relevant for jobs that deal directly with money—cashiers, account managers, and the like. For everyone else, negative credit reports keep otherwise capable people from securing a job to help avoid further financial problems. So why do so many companies still ask for credit reports?
Man On Scooter Denied Drive-Through Coffee Service
By 6.16.09
Here’s pretty much the same story about a customer on a motorized scooter not being allowed to use the drive through, this time at a Tim Hortons coffee establishment in Nova Scotia. He’s not going to sue, but plans to appeal to Nova Scotia‘s Human Rights Commission.
White Castle Refuses To Serve Electric Scooter Rider Via Drive-Through
By 6.15.09
A White Castle in St. Paul, Minnesota, is a 24-hour establishment, but it locks its dining room doors at 11 pm. Unfortunately, its drive-through service is restricted to customers in cars, so the employees refused to serve a 37-year-old woman who pulled up on an electric mobility scooter. Now she says she’s madder than fish grease, which is pretty mad, and she wants to sue them for discriminating against customers who can’t drive.
Continental's "General Vibe" Doesn't Include Black People
By 5.26.09
Laney went out for drinks after work with some co-workers. He changed out of his uniform, but they wore theirs. Soon after the group entered, Laney was asked to leave, ostensibly due to a dress code violation…but it became clear his outfit wasn’t the problem.
Isis Bridal Tells Woman With MS To Get Out
By 5.19.09
Ooo, you nasty! With your service animal! Get out of here! That’s the new informal slogan of Isis Bridal & Formal in Dallas after news broke that they kicked out a 62-year-old grandmother with multiple sclerosis, because they were worried her service dog would get service dog cooties all over the dresses.
GameFly Accuses US Postal Service Of Breaking, Losing, And Stealing Its Game Discs
By 5.6.09
Late last year we pointed out that GameFly, a Netflix-style program for video games, was beginning to develop a reputation for rotten service and slow turnaround. It looks like the United States Postal Service may be partly to blame, at least as far as GameFly is concerned. They’ve filed a complaint against the USPS over lost, stolen, and damaged discs, as well as discriminatory treatment when compared to Netflix and Blockbuster.
Forced Arbitration: You Can't Sue Us For Discrimination
By 4.30.09
Besides banning forced arbitration in consumer and franchise contracts, the Arbitration Fairness Act bans mandatory binding arbitration clauses in employment contracts. John’s story illustrates why this is necessary, inside.
Airport Security Says Disabled Man Isn't "In Possession Of" His Luggage
By 3.27.09
Blogger Dave Hingsburger writes about a horrifying experience at the airport. Dave, who is disabled, was informed by airport security that because he was in a wheelchair, he wasn’t technically “in possession of” his luggage and that “some body” needed to attend to it. The security guard continued to argue with Dave until a pilot apologetically intervened. Well done, airport security. An Elephant Disappears (Photo: ringmaster006)
HSBC, Wells Fargo Accused Of Racism In Mortgage Issuing
By 3.15.09
The NAACP this week filed a class action suit accusing Wells Fargo and HSBC of charging unfairly high interest rates to African American homeowners with high incomes and high credit scores. The banks were quick to slap down the charges as “totally unfounded and reckless,” even in the face of convincing evidence from the NAACP.
Seven States Sue Over Health Worker "Conscience" Rule
By 1.16.09
Seven state attorneys general, Planned Parenthood, and the ACLU have sued to overturn the so-called “conscience” rule, which allows doctors, pharmacists, and other health care workers to refuse to perform procedures or dispense medication that conflicts with their beliefs.
AirTran Removes Muslim Family From Flight, Refuses To Reseat After FBI Clears Them
By 1.2.09
AirTran removed a Muslim family and their friend from their flight, had them questioned by the FBI, and then refused to re-seat or rebook them after they were cleared by the FBI.
Toys"R"Us: You Are Too Young For A Grandparent's Discount
By 9.13.08
“It’s discriminatory,” Peters said. “How do you put an age on a grandparent or a mother or a father, for that matter?”
Court Rules That U.S. Currency Discriminates Against The Blind
By 5.21.08
According to the AP, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that because all dollar bills are identical to the touch, it denies blind people “meaningful access” to the currency. For years, the American Council of the Blind has been going after the government to take action, but the government has always resisted. Details, inside…
Store Owner Demands Spanish-Speaking Customers Show Social Security Cards
By 3.13.08
David C. Richardson, the owner of Rhode Island Refrigeration in Providence, Rhode Island, overheard two customers speaking Spanish to each other, so he asked them to produce proof of citizenship. According to them, he then threatened to call Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and make a citizen’s arrest, although Richardson denies he picked up the phone, but not that he made the threats. In fact, he says he’s done this “fifteen or twenty times” in the past and refuses to do business with those who won’t show their Social Security cards.
