Comments on: The Only Artificial Thing Abercrombie & Fitch Wants on Its Employees Is Its Image [Yup, Another Lawsuit]

By: sophie

sophie — Fri, 14 May 2010 18:37:28 +0000

Abercrombie & Fitch employees are not required to wear a polo shirt or jeans. I work there and was working there at the time of this incident. Jeans are required to some extent– most of the time, but currently certain dresses the store sells are permitted. In addition, all shirts, etc., must be gray, navy or white. HOWEVER, employees are not required to wear Abercrombie. They can wear whatever they want provided it is the 3 colors listed above and does not have a visible competitors logo. This is not hard to accomplish. I have worn shirts from American Apparel and cardigans from J.Crew while on the job. Every retail store has a dress code. Not saying it’s appropriate it to punish a person for having a prosthetic limb. But I have been wearing long sleeves practically the entire time I have worked there. So do lots of other people I work with. Furthermore, the stock room is not for “underlings”. Yes the job titles are “model” and “impact team” but don’t get caught up with the nouns people. Everyone does the same thing, with the exception that impact people know a lot more about the stock room. I am a model and I work in the front folding clothes. I’m not idolized for it. It’s an unglamourless $8 an hour part time job. Just saying I think people make too big a deal out of Abercrombie and their “look policy”. It’s really not that ridiculous if you can follow a few normal dress code policies that any retail store would have.

By: biopaki

biopaki — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:42:25 +0000

i read it and it was quiet insightful thanks hap

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:45:20 +0000

Good luck Riam, I applaud you for standing up for what should be a “no brainer” in the way human beings treat one another.

I guess I am either especially addled or at least half blind because when I first saw your photo accompanying this article my only thought was “wow, what a lovely young lady.” It was only after getting a few sentences in the article that I looked back and said “oh, didn’t even notice about her arm until they pointed it out.”

One day humans will evolve. We just haven’t made it there yet.

By: MissKate

MissKate — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:40:51 +0000

Its one thing to have a store that sells nail polish wanting their employees to have nice nails. A+F is not selling arms. They are selling clothing that is rediculously cheap to produce and marking it up 600% so that whiny brat children can spend their parents money at the mall so that they learn early in life it is what you have that makes the person, now who are.

To me it is simple: You hire someone knowing they have a disability, and you tell her that covering it up with a piece of clothing, that she undoubtly paid for out of her own pocket, that she will have certain and specific duties. Then she is demoted because the company changed its mind on the policy. To me, A+F should have informed her in a reasonable amount of time of a policy change and given her a choice. “we changed our minds. you may not wear this when you are in this position. if you must wear it, then you must work here”. then she could have made a decision herself.

By: sandra hughes

sandra hughes — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:46:55 +0000

well !
Did A&F managers ask her to buy a cardigan because it would make her fit in or did she hear this in the speech when they say you can buy non branded clothes of your own as long as it conforms to the “look policy”.It seems to me really harsh if she was picked on but feel that as a law studant maybe she is using A&F to make a name for herself and maybe help with the studant loan.

By: JOE JOE

JOE JOE — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:01:21 +0000

HAHA! WOW! Your special. Its easier huh???? You really must be some kind of expert that has never held either position with this company so you would have no clue. I really wonder how you and about every other person on this page really think that they are high and mighty. They know fashion they know what’s right and wrong they know who are bad parents bc of where they shop all you people suck a little bit. Most of you know nothing about anything and just sit on that perch and judge. Your not the Lord.

During the interview the group of kids is told what they can and cannot do. They are told about look policy and the other procedures and expectations of the company. So when they leave that interview they know what exactly is expected of them. If the manager decides to hire, they have already been told about these polices before they accept the job. On their first day they sign a forms saying they comply with the look policy. Therefore she should have known that they do not make exceptions for anyone of their associates, and anyone that has ever work in HR knows you do not make exceptions. So (assuming) she signed the forms, she agreed to the look policy and still am wondering what the problem is? I understand she has a disability but the cardigan would still be an exception to the look policy and should not be worn. And Rhonda if you were to come in to work with nail polish and the wrong shoes you should get sent home as well bc obviously you can’t listen to a simple instruction on look policy!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Mercedes

Mercedes — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:32:46 +0000

By “fits you” I of course meant if you are in that category (being transgender, being African American, being gay, being disabled…)

By: Mercedes

Mercedes — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:28:12 +0000

HELL YES ITS OFFENSIVE. You probably didn’t realize that, but just to let you know.
It’s one of those words that you shouldn’t use unless it fits you (like being Afr-Amer and using the n word) or are very close to that group and they tell you its ok.

By: sunshine

sunshine — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:19:34 +0000

It is my personal opinion that A&F is wasting their time even worrying about the staff’s appearance to this degree. When I shop for clothing I’m looking at the product and price. I honestly couldn’t tell you what the last ten sales people I’ve dealt with look like. Even if they are especially helpful, I just don’t care enough to remember. Now, if they are rude-THAT I remember.
On another note, I bought an A&F pullover sweater at a garage sale for a quarter. It seems to be worth it. The tag reads, “Made in Bangladesh.” What if they used salespeople from the factory? Or sold their clothing exclusively online? Then they wouldn’t have to see their ugly customers….

Good luck Riam.

By: JOE JOE

JOE JOE — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:08:06 +0000

This is all in the hiring forms and would have been sinned by her at the time of employment. Stating that she would have to follow the look policy and it would not be at the employees discretion on what to wear. I understand what one or two people may have said to her but she still had to singh forms. This is a stupid mistake by one or two ignorant managers on wording that their may have been a mistake in stating that she could wear this white top. Would you feel the same way about this if she just wouldn’t of received the job for her disability. Maybe some action with in the company to make the people pay for the trouble and imbaresment that they have caused this young lady. But money, a lawsuit for money, I just see this as greed and try to get ahead by exploiting someone else. Not a fan of most lawsuits, really MONEY makes everyone feel better. The problem is making money more powerful than your word more important in your life than anything els.