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A former In-N-Out Burger employee is suing the company, alleging racial harassment after he declined to trim his sideburns. The lawsuit claims that Elijah Obeng, 21, experienced emotional distress and was unjustly terminated from his position at the Compton, California location. The case highlights potential violations of the CROWN Act and raises concerns about workplace discrimination related to grooming policies.
Lawsuit Alleges Racial Discrimination Over Grooming Standards
Elijah Obeng, a 21-year-old, has filed a lawsuit asserting that he faced racial harassment and wrongful termination by his superiors at In-N-Out Burger after refusing to cut his sideburns. The suit was submitted to the Compton Superior Court on Thursday.
Details of the Alleged Harassment
Obeng, who had been employed at the Compton establishment for almost four years since his high school graduation, alleges that he was soon instructed to alter his hairstyle as it grew longer.
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- According to the lawsuit, In-N-Out’s guidelines mandate that all employees wear company-provided hats, ensuring their hair is tucked in.
- Male staff members are additionally required to be clean-shaven.
After being asked to modify his hairstyle, Obeng opted for braids. However, management reportedly continued to object to his sideburns, which he argued were integral to his “racial and cultural identity,” according to the legal documents.
Escalation of Workplace Tensions
Obeng maintains that his work environment deteriorated rapidly after his supervisor began criticizing his facial hair, which he described as “humiliating and discriminatory.”
The legal filing indicates that Obeng began to experience disparate treatment, including reprimands for missing meetings and “minor infractions,” while his colleagues were not penalized for similar actions.
Climax of the Dispute
Tensions reached a critical point on May 25, 2024, when Obeng claims his supervisor instructed him to go home and shave his sideburns before returning to work. The lawsuit claims this directive was issued “in full view of his coworkers,” causing him to “feel publicly humiliated.”
Instead of returning to work that day, Obeng informed his supervisor via text that he would resume his scheduled shifts, viewing the demand as “a discriminatory and unnecessary grooming requirement,” as stated in the lawsuit.
Termination and Legal Repercussions
Several days later, Obeng was allegedly dismissed from his position “due to his protected traits and in violation of public policy,” the lawsuit indicates.
In-N-Out, however, claims that Obeng’s termination was based on “prior write-ups,” not on the basis of “his natural hair” or the company’s alleged resistance to discriminatory practices.
CROWN Act Allegations
The lawsuit asserts that In-N-Out violated the CROWN Act, which stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.
California law prohibits employers from discriminating against employees based on their hair texture or style, as stipulated by the CROWN Act.
“This policy disproportionately burdened Black employees whose natural hair may not conform to such grooming standards,” the lawsuit alleges.
Damages Sought
Obeng claims to have suffered “anxiety, humiliation, and loss of dignity” due to the alleged actions of his former employers.
He is seeking $1 million in compensatory damages, $2 million for emotional distress, and $200,000 for lost wages.
The lawsuit also seeks punitive damages to be determined at trial.
Historical Context of Sideburns and Cultural Significance
The term “sideburns” originated from Ambrose Burnside, a Union general known for his distinctive facial hair.
Sideburns gained widespread popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, embraced by hippies and rock musicians.
For Black men, facial hair carries profound cultural significance, representing cultural legacy and identity.
During the 1960s and 1970s, sideburns, afros, and beards became symbols of pride and resistance within the Black community.
Influential figures like Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael often shaped grooming trends for Black men.
From the 1970s to the 1980s, sideburns became associated with soul, disco, and funk artists such as Marvin Gaye, Isaac Hayes, and Curtis Mayfield.