Dive Brief:
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The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case of alleged religious discrimination by Abercrombie & Fitch. The teen-apparel retailer denied a female teen a job because of her headscarf, which as a Muslim she is required to wear.
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The teenager filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission when she learned it was her religious garb that lost her the job opportunity.
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The EEOC ruled that Abercrombie & Fitch was required to offer a religious accommodation and a federal court agreed, but an appeals court agreed with the retailer’s argument that it wasn’t aware of the need because the teen applicant didn’t directly ask for one.
Dive Insight:
When it comes to clothing, Abercrombie & Fitch is known for featuring barely any in its advertising and in-store visuals. But in this case, the retailer is arguing that it wasn’t aware of the need for a religious exemption for a Muslim teenager who wanted to work at one of its stores in Tulsa, OK. That's because the girl never asked for one, although her headscarf was a topic of conversation at her job interview.
While the Supreme Court will hear about this one case, the teen-apparel retailer has wrestled with this issue in other states. The retailer lost a similar case in California, for example, and has since revised its policy on religious wear worn by employees.