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USA Today
21 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Former In-N-Out employee accuses burger chain of discriminatory firing for natural hair
A former In-N-Out employee is suing the West Coast burger chain for alleged discriminatory treatment and termination due to his natural hair. Elijah Obeng filed a lawsuit against In-N-Out, alleging he was discriminated against and fired based on his natural hairstyle and texture. Obeng claims he has suffered damages from the termination, including emotional distress, reputational harm and loss of employment, court documents state. He is seeking $3 million in damages and $200,000 in pay he would have earned since his firing or could have earned in the future. In-N-Out declined to comment to USA TODAY on June 18, citing ongoing litigation. Obeng and his lawyer did not immediately respond to request for comment. Lawsuit accuses In-N-Out of 'humiliating and discriminatory' action According to court documents, Obeng began working at an In-N-Out restaurant in June 2020 after graduating from high school. He continued to work for the chain until he was terminated in spring 2024. Obeng went to work with his natural hair, in accordance with In-N-Out's grooming and uniform policy, the lawsuit reads. When Obeng's hair got longer, he was instructed by management to cut or alter it to fit under the required uniform hat. In an effort to comply with the policy, Obeng began wearing his hair in braids. Management then told him, court documents state, that he needed to cut his sideburns, which Obeng found "humiliating and discriminatory." When he did not cut his sideburns, Obeng began experiencing different treatment. He was punished for minor policy violations, like not attending work meetings, which Obeng claims his colleagues did not face, the lawsuit reads. In-N-Out's grooming and uniform policy is not readily accessible online, but Indeed forums indicate that male workers must arrive to shifts clean-shaven, with no facial hair. On around May 25, 2024, Obeng clocked in for what would be his last shift at In-N-Out. Upon his arrival, management told him to go home, shave his sideburns and return, court documents state. Instead, Obeng left and texted his supervisor that he would return for his next shift. A few days later, Obeng was fired, which In-N-Out claimed was due to prior write-ups, according to court documents. Obeng, however, alleges that his termination was because of his "ancestry, color and race, including his natural hairstyle and hair texture." Former employee says In-N-Out violated CROWN Act In the lawsuit, Obeng says In-N-Out violated the CROWN Act, a law that prohibits employers from discrimination based on hairstyle and texture. Standing for "Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair," the law was first passed in California in 2019 with the help of Dove, the CROWN Coalition and Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell. As of June 18, the CROWN Act is law in 27 states, according to The CROWN Act website. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
In-N-Out Burger Being Sued for $3.2 Million
In-N-Out Burger is packed seemingly every day with guests wanting a burger with fresh fries in a very limited (albeit popular) menu. As of March 2025, In-N-Out has 418 locations across the United States. Most are in California and the West Coast, but the company has started to venture out to Texas as well. Unfortunately, In-N-Out is being sued for a whopping $3.2 million by one former employee, and the reason is because of his hairstyle, per Annie Goodykoontz of The Los Angeles Times. "In-N-Out Burger is being sued for at least $3 million by a former employee for alleged racial discrimination involving the employee's hairstyle, according to a Los Angeles County Superior Court filing," the report stated. "According to the suit, 21-year-old Elijah Obeng, who is Black, said he experienced severe emotional distress after he was unfairly targeted by the burger chain's dress code. The dress code requires its employees to wear company-issued hats with their hair tucked in, and male employees must be clean-shaven, the lawsuit says." Obeng worked at the Compton In-N-Out store for nearly four years, and the report stated that the company took exception to his hairstyle and his sideburns with him even being sent home in May 2024 to shave his sideburns. Based on Obeng's lawsuit, the Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair (CROWN Act) is what the company is in violation of, which prohibits employers from discriminating against employees based on their hairstyles and hair textures. The former employee's experience caused him 'anxiety, humiliation, and loss of dignity,' per the lawsuit. Moreover, In-N-Out responded and said that it was due to prior write-ups, but Obeng believes it was a discriminatory act resulting in his resistance against the dress code policy. From a financial aspect, a $3.2 million lawsuit is a small number compared to the $2 billion per year the company brings in, but dealing with this will likely bring negative attention to the well-known burger Burger Being Sued for $3.2 Million first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 20, 2025
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Former In-N-Out employee files $3 million lawsuit, accuses company of alleged discrimination over hairstyle
A former In-N-Out employee has filed a $3 million lawsuit against In-N-Out, alleging that he received discriminatory treatment and was eventually fired due to his hairstyle. Elijah Obeng, a Black man, filed his lawsuit in Compton Superior Court and said he suffered from severe emotional distress, reputational harm and loss of employment. He is accusing In-N-Out of wrongful termination, discrimination based on race, failure to prevent harassment, harassment based on race, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and failure to prevent harassment, discrimination, or retaliation. In-N-Out declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation. Obeng said in the suit that he was unfairly targeted by the burger chain's dress code, which requires employees to wear company-issued hats with their hair tucked in. Men are required to be clean-shaven, according to the lawsuit. However, as his hair grew, Obeng said he was instructed by management to change his hairstyle to comply with company policy. Specifically, he was advised to cut or alter his hair so that it could fit entirely under the uniform hat, according to the suit. Obeng stated that he braided his hair to comply with company policy, but management advised him to cut off his sideburns, which Obeng found 'humiliating and discriminatory.' Obeng stated that he began experiencing different treatment, such as being reprimanded for minor infractions, having his work scrutinized more harshly and being denied opportunities for promotion and advancement. Around May 25, 2024, Obeng stated that his supervisor instructed him to go home, shave and return. However, Obeng noted that he didn't have any facial hair other than natural sideburns that were part of his hairstyle. His coworkers also witnessed the interaction. Obeng stated that he felt 'publicly humiliated' during that moment. A few days later, Obeng was fired and claimed he was let go due to his 'natural hair and resistance to discriminatory policies.' In-N-Out claimed he was let go due to prior write-ups, according to the suit. The lawsuit states that In-N-Out violated the CROWN Act, which stands for Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair. The California law prohibits employers from discriminating against employees based on their hairstyles and hair textures. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
In-N-Out former employee files $3-million lawsuit, saying he was fired over his hairstyle
In-N-Out Burger is being sued for at least $3 million by a former employee for alleged racial discrimination involving the employee's hairstyle, according to a Los Angeles County Superior Court filing. According to the suit, 21-year-old Elijah Obeng, who is Black, said he experienced severe emotional distress after he was unfairly targeted by the burger chain's dress code. The dress code requires its employees to wear company-issued hats with their hair tucked in, and male employees must be clean-shaven, the lawsuit says. An In-N-Out corporate representative could not immediately be reached for comment on the lawsuit. Obeng worked at the Compton In-N-Out location for a little less than four years. As his hair grew, he began receiving orders to change his hairstyle so it could remain contained in the company-issued hat. He began wearing braids to comply, but management still took issue with Obeng's sideburns, which he considered important to his cultural identity, according to the lawsuit. Obeng began to be treated differently at work after resisting the orders to shave, the lawsuit said. Management criticized his work more frequently than his fellow employees, and he was denied opportunities for promotions, according to the suit. In May 2024, Obeng's supervisor sent him home to shave his sideburns and then return, according to the filing. This was done in front of his co-workers, and he felt 'publicly humiliated,' the suit said. Obeng did not follow these orders and instead texted his supervisor that he would return for his next shift. A couple days later, he was fired, the lawsuit said. In-N-Out said the termination was due to prior write-ups, but Obeng believed it to be a discriminatory action in retaliation to his resistance against the dress code policies, the filing said. The suit said that In-N-Out has allegedly violated the CROWN Act, which stands for Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair. This California law prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of an employee's hairstyle or hair texture. 'This policy disproportionately burdened Black employees whose natural hair may not conform to such grooming standards,' the lawsuit said. In-N-Out's alleged discrimination has caused Obeng 'anxiety, humiliation, and loss of dignity,' the suit said.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania's CROWN Act legislation advances
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Pennsylvania is one step closer to making it illegal to discriminate against a person based on their hair. House Bill 439, also known as the CROWN Act, is now headed to the Senate State Government Committee for a vote after passing the state House Monday, according to State Rep. La'Tasha Mayes (D-Allegheny). 'Today we take another significant step towards ending race-based discrimination in our commonwealth and creating a respectful and open world for natural hair,' Mayes said. 'It is shameful that such a basic protection has still not been codified into our state law after years of legislative action. No one should face discrimination for wearing their hair as it naturally grows from their head or in protective styles such as locs, braids or cornrows. The CROWN Act deserves an immediate vote from the state Senate to protect our workers, students, and other members of the public from this insidious type of discrimination.' The bill passed the state House with a vote of 194-8. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now H.B. 439 would 'amend the PA Human Relations Act to prohibit discrimination based on a person's hair type, hair texture or hairstyle, including for Pennsylvania employers. During the previous legislation, the CROWN Act did pass the state house with a vote of 182-21 but it was never brought before the Senate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
