Ohio-based Abercrombie & Fitch sued by employee for, you guessed it, clothing!

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Apple's avatar

Apple

Prost!

2,620 posts
Feb 24, 2010 8:16 PM
From what I understand, the employee was told she could wear the religious scarf if the color matched the A-F brand identity. A district manager noticed her wearing the scarf during a recent visit and contacted the corporate HR dept. When she refused to comply with the company dress-code policy, she was fired.

I'm siding with A-F on this one. Companies need to be able to control their brand. If employees are required to dress a certain way or even wear a uniform, potential employees know it coming into the job. If you don't like wearing a silly hat at the local Long John Silver's, don't go there to apply for a job.

Claiming religious discrimination by a clothing store for not being able to wear a certain type of clothing that differs from the clothing type and style being sold makes about as much sense as suing to be a lifeguard when you can't even swim.

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Feb 24, 2010 8:16pm
ts1227's avatar

ts1227

Senior Member

12,319 posts
Feb 24, 2010 8:42 PM
Eh, I would NORMALLY say rules are rules, but AF is an exception.
AF has always been more about promoting/protecting an "image" than their brand.

They can hide under protecting their brand, but it comes down to the fact that they would not dress one of their insanely large douches in their magazines in it.

It's a scarf, she can still wear tons of visible AF clothing. It's not like she had a burqa on.
Feb 24, 2010 8:42pm
stroups's avatar

stroups

Senior Member

3,223 posts
Feb 24, 2010 8:50 PM
Rules are rules, if you don't like them.........GTFO

Go start your own company and let them where whatever they want
Feb 24, 2010 8:50pm
Apple's avatar

Apple

Prost!

2,620 posts
Feb 24, 2010 9:05 PM
I would have to say that the AF "image" is their brand, in a way synonymous.
Feb 24, 2010 9:05pm
ts1227's avatar

ts1227

Senior Member

12,319 posts
Feb 24, 2010 9:09 PM
To an extent, but the way they phrase it is basically their way of saying it's ugly.

This is the company that won't hire ugly or fat people so long as they can get away with it.
Feb 24, 2010 9:09pm
E

enigmaax

Senior Member

4,511 posts
Feb 24, 2010 9:33 PM
ts1227 wrote: They can hide under protecting their brand, but it comes down to the fact that they would not dress one of their insanely large douches in their magazines in it.
That is funny. I worked at A&F in New Albany for about a year and found it interesting that a clothing retailer had so many 10xlifesize pictures of naked dudes around every corner.

They are really big on "brand" and "culture" in a cult sort of way. I worked with an awesome group, but walking around the campus made me feel like I was in Halloween 3 (lot of robotic clones).

As for the dress code, I was told they prefered I wear at least one A&F logo and any non-A&F clothing could not have a visible logo and could not be from a direct competitor (Aero, AE, etc.). I squeezed my fat ass into a few shirts for awhile, more or less as a joke, before finally going back to my normal solid button ups and never had a problem.

A colleague worked with HR on one of their global initiatives and some of the early feedback for them was that their presentation was highly culturally insensitive (try as they did to preach diversity). Weird, weird atmosphere there.
Feb 24, 2010 9:33pm
BORIStheCrusher's avatar

BORIStheCrusher

drunk

1,893 posts
Feb 24, 2010 9:35 PM
ts1227 wrote: This is the company that won't hire ugly or fat people so long as they can get away with it.
This is 100% true, I used to work there. They get away with it because they don't call their employees sales people, they consider them in store models who are there to show off the product, and just happen to ring people up too. I could write a book about everything thats wrong with that place.
Feb 24, 2010 9:35pm
Fab4Runner's avatar

Fab4Runner

Tits McGee

6,196 posts
Feb 24, 2010 9:55 PM
I don't shop there but, if I did, seeing someone in a scarf wouldn't stop me from buying whatever it was I wanted. The people going there will buy the stuff regardless...not sure why this scarf was a big deal.
Feb 24, 2010 9:55pm
hangonsloopy's avatar

hangonsloopy

Senior Member

1,291 posts
Feb 24, 2010 10:23 PM
I get a headache just walking by that store. How anyone can shop there and not pass out from the buckets of cologne is beyond me.
Feb 24, 2010 10:23pm
LJ's avatar

LJ

Senior Member

16,351 posts
Feb 24, 2010 10:40 PM
hangonsloopy wrote: I get a headache just walking by that store. How anyone can shop there and not pass out from the buckets of cologne is beyond me.
When I used to shop there you would see them walking through the store spraying cologne.

They still have the best cargo khaki shorts though
Feb 24, 2010 10:40pm
power i's avatar

power i

Senior Member

1,296 posts
Feb 25, 2010 10:31 AM
ccrunner609 wrote: I have never and refuse to ever wear anything from their store. Mass doushery going on there.
LOL!! MASS DOUSHERY!!! I'll have to show that to my son. He starts working there tomorrow :D
Feb 25, 2010 10:31am
sej's avatar

sej

Senior Member

540 posts
Feb 25, 2010 10:34 AM
power i wrote: LOL!! MASS DOUSHERY!!! I'll have to show that to my son. He starts working there tomorrow :D

Oh good! Guess that means we don't have to bail you out of jail!
Feb 25, 2010 10:34am
Automatik's avatar

Automatik

Senior Member

14,632 posts
Feb 25, 2010 10:36 AM
I have no issues with what happened. A&F is extremely anal about what their models wear on the floor. I worked at Ruehl during the holiday season for a few years. I got bitched at constantly!
Feb 25, 2010 10:36am
Websurfinbird's avatar

Websurfinbird

Chosen Person

656 posts
Feb 25, 2010 11:02 AM
Not sure where I stand on this one. But based on what I know about A&F, I'm surprised that anyone who is religious, and dresses accordingly, would want to work for a company that is so blatantly sexual.

Though I don't have any first-hand experience, I have heard horrible things about the way associates are treated by the retailer. They make it seem like an honor to work there but give you crap pay and treat you badly.

I'm surprised A&F is still around based on its recent financial performance.
Feb 25, 2010 11:02am
UA5straightin2008's avatar

UA5straightin2008

WOMP WOMP WOMP

3,246 posts
Feb 25, 2010 11:03 AM
i hate a&f..have never shopped there or even set foot in there store...same goes with hollister and aeropostale (sp?)....im more of the nordstroms/macys kind of guy :P
Feb 25, 2010 11:03am
C

cbus4life

Ignorant

2,849 posts
Feb 25, 2010 11:16 AM
Hollister employees are the biggest tools in the history of retail.
Feb 25, 2010 11:16am
B

bamagirl

Senior Member

154 posts
Feb 25, 2010 11:28 AM
I can't stand Abercrombie or Ruehl and spend $30 on a Tshirt. I like American Eagle though, not sure if they are owned by the same company? But they are a lot more laid back...at least that is how it seems.
Feb 25, 2010 11:28am