Abercrombie

1
Abercrombie Fitch

• Presenters
• Mark Rentz
• Tiffany Pullin
• Julie Kovencz

2
Case Issues

• Abercrombie recruits, hires, and maintains a
  predominantly white sales force.
• Abercrombie systematically discourages
  applications from minority applicants, and
  refuses to hire qualified minority applicants.
• Abercrombie uses an appearance policy in which
  all sales people, or Brand Representatives must
  fit the AF look

3
Case Issues

• Abercrombie uses visual media to enhance the
  importance of the AF look
• Careful scrutiny and monitoring by regional and
  district managers to maintain the AF look
• AF requires quarterly photo reports of Brand
  Representatives that fit the look

4
Year of Decision

• Final Decision was made on November 16, 2004
• U.S. District Court of San Francisco

5
Facts

• On June 18, 2003 AF was hit with a
  discrimination lawsuit that alleged that AF
  hires a disproportionately white sales force,
  put minorities in less visible jobs, and
  cultivates a virtually all-white image in its
  catalogues and elsewhere.
• The EEOC joined the plaintiffs in the lawsuit in
  the fight against discrimination
• The EEOC estimated that the lawsuit would affect
  more than 10,000 Hispanic, Asian, or Black men
  and women

6
Federal Laws Violated

• Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964

7
Results

• AF was required to adhere to a consent decree
  that calls for the hiring of a VP of Diversity,
  and up to 25 diversity recruiters
• The marketing materials of the company should
  also reflect diversity
• 40 million in settlements is to be paid by AF

8
Why is this such an important case?

• The retail industry and other industries need to
  know that businesses cannot discriminate against
  individuals based on a marketing strategy or
  particular look
• Race and sex discriminations in employment are
  unlawful and the EEOC will now pursue more
  vigilantly employers in the retail industry that
  choose to discriminate