SAN FRANCISCO — Trendy clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch has agreed to make religious accommodations to its policy governing employees’ appearance as part of a settlement of discrimination lawsuits filed in California.
The lawsuits were filed on behalf of two Muslim women who claimed the company discriminated against them because they wore head scarves. Halla Banafa sued in 2010 after she was denied a job at an Abercrombie store. Hani Khan sued in 2011 after she was fired.
In court papers filed Friday, Ohio-based Abercrombie also agreed to pay the women a combined $71,000 and unspecified attorney fees. Additionally, it has established an appeals process for workers denied religious accommodations.
The women’s lawsuits were filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
