Abercrombie Assessed $20,000 In Damages On Title VII Claim, But No Injunction Issued

Earlier this month,in EEOC v. Abercrombie & Fitch Stores, Inc., an Oklahoma federal district court held that Abercrombie & Fitch violated Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act by refusing to hire a Muslim teenager because her religious belief requiring her to wear a headscarf violates the company's "Look Policy" for sales models. (See prior posting.) On Wednesday, according to the Tulsa World, a federal jury awarded $20,000 in damages in the case. However the court refused the EEOC's request to issue an injunction against the company that would require it to notify job applicants who wear a headscarf to their interview that they may request a religious accommodation. The EEOC also wanted the court to mandate training on the accommodation issue for store managers. The company has changed its interview procedures so applicants are now told that models may not wear head coverings, and are asked if they have any questions about that policy. [Thanks to Steven H. Sholk for the lead.]