Woman Sues Abercrombie and Fitch

August 13, 2009

A woman who worked in one of the London branches of the popular clothing store Abercrombie and Fitch is suing the company for harassing her for her disability. Riam Dean was born with no left forearm and had to wear a prosthetic arm. She claims that she was bullied and debased because of this deformity.

Dean said that she was forced to work in the back of the store’s stock room, because she did not fit the company’s “look” policy. Male employees of the store are often required to stand in front of the store, stripped to the waist while shoppers browse the dimly lit atmosphere.

Though Abercrombie and Fitch insisted that it has a strong anti-discrimination and harassment policy for its staff members, Dean claims that she was given permission to wear a cardigan over her arm when she was first hired to hide her disability. However, she was told a few days later that the cardigan did not comply with the dress code and that she would be transferred to work in the back until the winter uniforms, which covered the arms, arrived.