Altameroy Blog

Abercrombie and Fitch is a well-known American company engaged in the business of retail clothing. For its new store in Aberdeen it has come out with a poster asking for ‘cool and good-looking’ persons to apply for a job, which involves representing the company and selling its branded clothing. The wording of the advertisement has sparked a debate on discrimination.

This poster has attracted criticism from various quarters because it emphasises on the good looks of prospective candidates, which excludes many and so is discriminatory in nature. Added to this is the fact that the company has been reported offering interviews on streets to people with attractive personality.

Agreeing that the Abercrombie and Fitch advertisement is in bad taste, Richard Baker, North East Labour MSP, has asked the company to withdraw the same. In a case of discrimination and harassment last year, the company was fined £9,000. A young twenty two year old employee had brought charges against the company of forcing her to quit her job because she had a prosthetic arm. A tribunal that was hearing the case termed it a case of harassment and wrong dismissal and asked the company to pay the fine.

Nia Cooper, of Capital Law, said that companies must be careful about their recruitment policies so that they can avoid discriminatory practices. Referring to the poster advertisement of Abercrombie and Fitch she mentioned that the words ‘cool’ and ‘good looking’ are objectionable because of they give an idea of preferring a certain group excluding others. Ms Cooper suggests the substitution of ‘cool’ with ‘friendly’ and adding a sentence declaring that all are welcome to apply.

Abercrombie and Fitch spokespersons have claimed that this poster has been misread. The words objected to merely mean that a fun loving and stylish candidate is needed to sell their branded clothes. The spokesperson assured that the company has no intention of harassing or discriminating against any groups and that it follows the policy of equal opportunity.

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