Discrimination can come in many forms. Some people focus on racial discrimination that stems from the color of someone’s skin; however, there’s another type of racial discrimination that occurs far too often.
Some individuals are subjected to discrimination because of the texture or style of their hair. When hair-based discrimination occurs to an employee, their job can be jeopardized. Lawmakers in Washington have instituted the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act.
What does the CROWN Act cover?
The CROWN Act prohibits employers from being able to discriminate against job applicants or employees based on their hair characteristics. It specifically prevents workers from facing discrimination because of protective hairstyles, such as braids, twists or dreadlocks, as well as natural hairstyles like afros.
Before this act became law, employers could include points in the dress code that forbade certain hairstyles. Those forbidden hairstyles often negatively affected only people with certain ethnic backgrounds.
Employers can still include terms in the dress code about hairstyles, but those terms can’t affect people of color unfairly or unequally. For example, a restaurant may opt to require employees to put their hair up for food safety; however, that requirement must apply across the board to all employees.
Any employee who believes they were discriminated against because of their hair should know that they can take legal action. These cases can be complex, so it’s critical that they seek the assistance of someone who’s familiar with this law and can help them to uphold their rights.