U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Abercrombie & Fitch Stores, Inc.

# Abercrombie & Fitch Religious Discrimination Case **What Happened** A Muslim woman applied for a job at Abercrombie & Fitch and was qualified for the position. However, the company refused to hire her because she wore a headscarf as part of her religious practice. Abercrombie & Fitch claimed that their dress code and customer preferences made hiring her impossible. **What the Court Decided** The court ruled against Abercrombie & Fitch, finding that the company violated federal anti-discrimination law. The decision stated that employers cannot reject qualified job applicants based on religious clothing or appearance, even if they believe customers might prefer it. Customer preference is not a legal excuse for religious discrimination. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling protects employees and job applicants who practice their religion through clothing, head coverings, or other visible expressions. Employers must hire qualified candidates regardless of religious appearance choices, unless accommodating those choices creates genuine workplace hardship. Workers now have clearer legal protection when seeking employment while practicing their faith.