Imagine yourself at a Hollister store; as you enter, the stacks of denim, the myriad of shirts and a chic crew staff overwhelm you. However, beyond the storefront, Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) is embroiled in unethical workplace discrimination.
Hani Khan won the lawsuit against Abercrombie & Fitch for unlawful dismissal
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Umme-Hani Khan, an ex-impact associate at Hollister, recently won a lawsuit against A&F for unlawful dismissal. Prior to her termination, Khan engaged in stockroom work and was allowed to wear religious headscarves that were in Hollister colours. However, she was fired after she refused to remove her hijab months after she was told that it did not comply with the ideal staff ‘look’.
Workplace equality is part and parcel of business ethics. It is imperative for employers to be transparent and unbiased when interacting with staff; at the workplace, a respectful environment allows employees to develop an attachment to the company, motivating and consequently, improving productivity. Furthermore, it is fundamentally wrong to force individuals to compromise on their beliefs for their jobs. It is immoral for a company to disregard an employee’s right to equality and their needs. Ultimately, if employees are to make a difference at their workplaces, business ethics are the keys to empower these agents of change.
Bibliography:
- Hafalia, Liz. Hani Khan at the News Conference. 27 June. 2011. Abercrombie & Fitch sued over hijab firing. The Chronicle. Web. 11 Sep. 2013
- Ballhaus, Rebecca. “Muslim Fired by Abercrombie Wins Bias Suit.” http://online.wsj.com/. The Wall Street Journal, 9 Sept. 2013. Web. 10 Sept. 2013.