Latest news with #ElijahObeng
USA Today
a day 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.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Black In-N-Out Burger worker 'racially harassed' by bosses he claims asked him to remove body hair
A black In-N-Out Burger employee was allegedly racially harassed by his bosses after he refused to trim his sideburns, according to a new lawsuit. Elijah Obeng, 21, claims he suffered severe emotional distress and was wrongfully terminated after he was targeted by management over the popular burger chain's dress code, the lawsuit, filed Thursday with the Compton Superior Court, read. Obeng, who worked at the Compton location for nearly four years after graduating high school, was soon informed he had to change his hairstyle as it started to grow. The chain requires all staff to wear company-issued hats with their hair tucked in. Males employees must also be clean-shaven, the lawsuit detailed. After he was told he had to alter his hairstyle, Obeng started wearing braids, but management still found an issue with his sideburns - something that is part of his 'racial and cultural identity,' per the lawsuit. Shortly after his boss started to complain about his facial hair, which Obeng 'found humiliating and discriminatory,' he quickly realized a drastic change in his work environment. According to the legal filing, Obeng started 'experiencing different treatment' afterward, including being reprimanded for not attending meetings and for 'minor infractions.' His coworkers 'were not disciplined for similar conduct,' it added. Tensions soon rose to a boiling point when Obeng clocked in for his shift on May 25, 2024 as his supervisor asked him to go home and shave his sideburns before returning back to the fast food restaurant, the lawsuit stated. At the time, Obeng was told to do so by his boss 'in full view of his coworkers,' leading him to 'feel publicly humiliated,' the legal document said. Instead of returning back to his shift that day, Obeng texted his supervisor, letting them know he would clock back in for his next scheduled shift because he believed the particular incident was 'a discriminatory and unnecessary grooming requirement,' according to the lawsuit. Just a few days after, Obeng was fired from the job 'due to his protected traits and in violation of public policy,' the lawsuit read. Despite his claim, In-N-Out said Obeng was actually let go because of 'prior write-ups,' not because of 'his natural hair' and the company's 'resistance to discriminatory policies,' it continued. The suit said the burger chain allegedly violated the CROWN act, also known as Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair. In California employers are prohibited from discriminating against staffers based on their hair texture or style, per the CROWN act. 'This policy disproportionately burdened Black employees whose natural hair may not conform to such grooming standards,' the lawsuit read. Because of what he allegedly experienced at the hands of his former employers, Obeng has gone on to suffer 'anxiety, humiliation, and loss of dignity,' per the lawsuit. He has demanded that In-N-Out pay $1 million in compensatory damages, $2 million for emotional distress and $200,000 for back or front pay. He has also demanded that punitive damages be proven at a trial, the lawsuit said. Daily Mail contacted Obeng, his lawyer and In-N-Out for comment. The term sideburns was first coined by Ambrose Burnside, a Union general who sported the unique facial hair. Sideburns really became popular in the 1960-1970s as hippies and rock stars hopped on the trend. For black men specifically, facial hair is more than a fashion statement as it is symbolizes cultural legacy and identity. Throughout the 60s and 70s sideburns, afros and beards became popular as black men sported them to express their pride and resistance. Key figures, including human rights activist Malcom X and Black Power Movement leader Stockely Carmichael, often influenced grooming choices for men in the black community. From the 70s to the 80s, sideburns became part of a larger story as they became tied to soul, disco and funk performers, including Marvin Gaye, Isaac Hayes and Curtis Mayfield.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Compton man launches lawsuit against In-N-Out alleging discrimination over hairstyle
A Compton man is suing In-N-Out burger for racial discrimination, after he was allegedly pulled up multiple times, and eventually fired, over his hairstyle. Elijah Obeng, 21, who is Black, claims that he was unfairly targeted by managers at the store who singled him out over the required employee dress code – which resulted in severe emotional distress. In-N-Out requires its employees to wear company-issued hats with their hair tucked in, and male employees must be clean-shaven, according to a civil lawsuit obtained by the Los Angeles Times. The outlet reports, per the suit, that Obeng worked at the Compton In-N-Out location for just under four years. As his hair grew longer, Obeng was told by management that he should change the style so that it would remain under the company issued hat. Obeng braided his hair to comply with the request, but was later told to cut off his sideburns. He considered the sideburns important to his cultural identity, according to the lawsuit. After resisting the instructions to shave his sideburns and change his hair, Obeng alleges that he was treated differently – including being criticized more frequently and held to standards his coworkers were not. He was also denied opportunities for promotions, according to the suit. In May 2024, Obeng felt he had been 'publicly humiliated' after a supervisor told him to go home to shave his sideburns in front of other coworkers – which he did not do. According to the suit, Obeng texted his supervisor that he would return for his next shift, and a few days later he was fired. In-N-Out said the firing was due to prior write-ups, but Obeng believes that it was a retaliation for his refusal to adhere to the dress code policies, the filing states. The alleged discrimination has caused Obeng 'anxiety, humiliation, and loss of dignity,' the Times reports. In addition, the lawsuit claims that by asking Obeng to cut his hair, In-N-Out has violated the CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair). The California law stops employers from discriminating on the basis of an employee's hairstyle or hair texture.
