Another day, another loss for Abercrombie & Fitch.
This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Muslim woman who wasn’t hired by the failing retailer because she wore a hijab, which reportedly didn’t fit the A&F “look.”
According to the Guardian, Samantha Elauf applied for a sales associate position in 2008, but was denied the job because of Abercrombie’s ban on all headgear. Soon after her interview, Elauf filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which filed suit against Abercrombie & Fitch for discrimination.
Though the store has since changed its policy, it insisted that Elauf, who was 17 at the time of the application, didn’t explain that her headdress was used for religious purposes; therefore, the hiring manager wasn’t aware that he/she was engaging in any kind of discrimination.
Do you buy it? Neither did the Supreme Court.
“An employer may not make an applicant’s religious practice, confirmed or otherwise, a factor in employment decisions,” the court said in a 8-1 vote. “Title VII contains no knowledge requirement.”
This isn’t the first time that Abercrombie has faced allegations of discrimination. Over the years it has caught major heat for its sketchy employment practices and forcing minority employees to take on low-visibility positions.
Here's hoping the store finally gets rid of its shitty hiring procedures, along with its shirtless models, cologne-drenched store locations, and its former CEO (and certified creep) Mike Jeffries.
