The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled in favor of a young Muslim woman who was denied a position at Abercrombie & Fitch on the basis of her religious dress.
When 17-year-old Samantha Elauf applied to work at Abercrombie & Fitch in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a manager decided not to hire her because her hijab head cover violated the company’s dress code, called its “look policy.” The Supreme Court ruled that the company’s failure to accommodate Elauf’s religious beliefs violated her civil rights.
Elauf initially won her case in trial court, but a federal appeals court later overturned that ruling, saying she was obligated to inform the company of her need for religious accommodation at the interview.
The Supreme Court rejected the lower court’s decision, saying that it was sufficient to know that A&F declined to hire a person because her potential need for religious accommodation, according to Marcia Coyle of the National Law Journal.
Justice Antonin Scalia said in the ruling that an employer cannot allow an applicant’s religious practice to be a factor in hiring decisions.
The implications of this ruling go beyond religious dress, according to Coyle. “Look policies” like the one at Abercrombie & Fitch will no longer be allowed to influence hiring in ways that discriminate. The store had changed its policy on employee dress before the ruling.
Warm up questions
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What is discrimination?
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How does a business like a clothing store decide who to hire as a sales person?
Critical thinking questions
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What is significant about the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari?
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What is political corruption and why would it be a problem for Nigeria?
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How can a country be a top oil producer while also suffering a major fuel crisis, and a struggling economy?
