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Clothing Store Denies
Discrimination against Turbaned Sikh
Admits
Staff Did Not Understand Dress Policy
 Westchester,
NY: A prominent clothing store denied they had discriminated against
Amandeep Singh, a young Sikh man, when he was refused a job because
of his turban and claimed that their staff had not understood their
dress policy.
When Amandeep
applied for a job at the Kenneth Cole retail store in Westchester
Mall earlier this summer, he did not expect to experience
discrimination. In a second interview, the manager of the store
expressed interest in hiring him, but then inquired as to the
necessity of his wearing of the dastaar (Sikh turban).
Amandeep
described his dastaar as a requirement of the Sikh faith, and the
manager informed him that "Kenneth Cole's company dress policy
clearly states that it did not allow shorts, baggy pants, visible
logos, tube-tops, miniskirts, or headgear," and therefore they would
not be able to hire him. This came as a surprise to Amandeep, as
Kenneth Cole used a Sikh model, Sonny Singh Cabberwal, in an
advertising campaign in the Fall of 2008, and that campaign was
heralded by the Sikh community.
After Amandeep
contacted United Sikhs, the forum wrote to Kenneth Cole asking that
the incident be immediately investigated, a change in corporate
policy be instituted, an apology be issued to Amandeep Singh, and
training be put in place regarding diversity including education
about Sikhs. Kenneth Cole responded with an apology, stated that the
particular store's associates did not understand the relevant
policies, and stated the Company's policy "does not prohibit
headgear worn because of a sincerely held religious belief."
Representatives
from the Company also called Amandeep and offered to continue his
interview process.
Amandeep Singh
commented on the experience, stating, "Being born and raised in the
United States, I never thought I would be discriminated against
because of my religion. I will now have this incident in mind every
time I apply for for a job." The dastaar (Sikh turban) is the most
recognizable feature of a Sikh. It is an inextricable part of the
Sikh identity and is worn by a Sikh at all times, to cover the kesh
(unshorn hair), one of the five articles of faith initiated Sikhs
are required to maintain. The requirement of unshorn hair and a
dastaar tied over it has been codified in the Sikh Code of Conduct
(Sikh Rehat Maryada).
Jaspreet Singh,
Staff Attorney at the United Sikhs said the forum will continue to
pursue this matter to ensure that proper protocol is in place so
that incidents like this one do not occur again.
7
October 2009
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