Abercrombie & Fitch fined for bias against girl with autism
September 9th, 2009She says store made her feel like a ‘misfit’
From Minnesota Public Radio, [Minneapolis-St. Paul] Star Tribune:
Minnesota has fined retailer Abercrombie & Fitch $115,264 for discriminating against a person with a disability after store representatives refused to allow a family member to help a girl with autism in a dressing room.
The state’s Department of Human Rights imposed the fine after the company repeatedly refused to respond to the girl’s mother’s request for an apology and denied engaging in discriminatory practices. An administrative law judge found that the girl had suffered mental anguish as a result of the incident, which was witnessed by a long line of customers. “I am a misfit at Abercrombie,” she testified.
Just last month, a British tribunal fined Abercrombie & Fitch for unlawful harassment of a clerk for reasons related to her disability. Riam Dean had alleged that the company banished her to its stockroom after concluding that her prosthetic arm did not comply with its “look policy.”
The company paid $40 million to settle yet another discrimination lawsuit in 2004, admitting no wrongdoing but agreeing to new policies aimed at promoting diversity.
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September 10th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
I am appalled at the behavior of Abercrombie & Finch. I work with disabled adults at a major company and I find the attitude at this retailer to be extremely inappropriate and unacceptable. I will not be buying from this retailer in the future at all.
September 10th, 2009 at 10:23 am
Wow, it seems that A&F is not a disabilities friendly store. Of course, this could be individual employees making really stupid decisions, but I think it’s time that Abercrombie & Fitch do some much needed training on how to accommodate individuals with disabilities…both employees and customers.