Straight woman and the Supreme Court in “Reverse Discrimination” case
The Supreme Court made a unanimous decision after siding alongside a woman who claimed she would not be in the job and was demoted for being straight.
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A former in-n-out employee is suing West Coast burger chain for discriminatory treatment and layoffs for natural hair.
Elijah Obeng filed a lawsuit against IN-N-Out, claiming that he was discriminated against and fired based on his natural hairstyle and texture. Obeng alleges that he suffered damage from the termination, including emotional distress, reputational damage and job loss, court documents say. He is seeking $3 million in damages and a $200,000 salary. He may have earned or earned in the future since his firing.
In-N-Out declined to comment on USA Today on June 18, citing the ongoing lawsuit. Obeng and his attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The lawsuit denies “humiliating and discriminatory” behaviour as in-n-out
According to court documents, Obeng began working at the In-N-Out restaurant in June 2020 after graduating from high school. He continued to work for the chain until he was fired in spring 2024.
Obeng went to work with his natural hair, following In-N-Out’s grooming and unified policies, the lawsuit reads. When Obeng’s hair became longer, he was instructed by the administrator to cut or change it to fit under the required uniform hat.
To follow the policy, Obeng began wearing hair in braids. Management told him, according to court documents, he needed to cut off his agonizing burn, but found it “humiliating and discriminatory.” When he did not cut his stomp bird, Obeng began to experience different treatments. He was punished for minor policy violations, including not attending a work meeting that his colleagues allegedly did not face, the lawsuit reads.
In-N-Out’s grooming and unified policies are not easily accessible online, but in fact the forum shows that male workers must arrive to change clean shaving without face hair.
Around May 25, 2024, Obeng recorded his final shift at In-N-Out. Once he arrived, management told him to go home and shave his sled and come back, court documents said. Instead, Obeng left and texted his supervisor as he returned for his next shift.
A few days later, Obeng was fired, according to court documents. However, Obeng argues that his ending is due to his “ancestors, colours, races”, including his “natural hair and hair textures.”
Former employee states the Crown Act for in-n-out violations
In the lawsuit, Obeng says In-N-Out violated the Crown Act, a law that prohibits employers from discrimination based on hairstyles and textures. Aiming to “create a world of respect and openness for natural hair,” the law was passed in 2019 with the help of Holly Mitchell, the first director of Dub, Crown Union and Los Angeles County. As of June 18th, the Crown Act is a law in 27 states, according to the Crown Act website.
Gretacross is a national trend reporter for USA Today. Story ideas? Please email her gcross@usatoday.com.
