A medical equipment company is set to pay $50,000 to a former employee who alleged she was terminated for wearing her natural hair, according to a lawsuit obtained by Atlanta Black Star.
The discrimination lawsuit was filed against American Screening, LLC, by the federal government in the US District Court For The Eastern District of Louisiana on behalf of the Black employee, Imani Jackson. When she initially interviewed for a sales job at the company in August 2018, she wore a long straight wig that the owner deemed “beautiful hair.”
Per the lawsuit, the wig likely came from an individual of European or Native American descent. However, things changed when Stewart started wearing her 4-A natural, curly hair in a bun in mid-September 2018. Her hair texture is more commonly associated with Black women.
“Other employees also often wore their own hair in buns or in ponytails, but unlike
Ms. Jackson, those employees did not have tightly curled hair,” the lawsuit noted.
The owner instructed human resources to speak to Jackson about “about her hair and looking more professional,” according to the court filing, adding that it looks like “she rolls out of bed.” The owner continued to make comments during her time at the company.
On October 11, 2018, the owner told Jackson that her hair was “unacceptable” and asked her to wear the wig again. The HR and payroll managers informed her that the owner was “acting unlawfully” and encouraged her to find another job.
According to the lawsuit, Jackson was fired days later, and the company then hired a replacement, who was white.
Jackson filed a charge of racial discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission accusing American Screening of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which notably provides protection for employees as well as job applicants from being discriminated against based on race, sex, age, and other factors.
According to the…
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