A Black California job applicant filed a lawsuit against his employer after being denied employment for refusing to cut off his dreadlocks.
Jeffrey Thornton had been working for Illinois-based event management firm Encore Global in its Florida offices since 2016. After being furloughed due to the pandemic, Thornton thought transferring to a San Diego office would get him back to work after hearing the California office was hiring.
He applied for a technical supervisor position and was told by the hiring manager that he was qualified but would need to cut off his locs if he wanted the job. He was told his hair would have to be above his ears, eyes, and shoulders if he wished to accept the position, and the company does not allow employees to tie their hair back.
“All that was left was to discuss the dress code. I expected to have to remove my ear gauges, that’s not a problem, [and] I’d be willing to trim my facial face. But I wasn’t prepared to be told I would need to cut my hair in order to comply with Encore standards,” Thornton said at a press conference.
Thornton filed a lawsuit against Encore, claiming the company is in violation of the state’s CROWN Act, which stands for “creating a respectful and open world for natural hair.” It prohibits race-based hair discrimination. His suit is believed to be the first since the Act took effect in January of 2020.
So far, 13 other states have implemented similar versions of the CROWN Act, including New York, New Jersey, Colorado, Virginia, Connecticut, and more.
Thornton is asking Encore for an apology, change, and unspecified general and punitive damages.
Encore said in a statement to Fox 5 that it regrets any “miscommunication” about the dress code, which Thornton “fully meets.”
“Maintaining a diverse and inclusive workplace where every individual has a full sense of belonging and feels empowered to reach their potential are core values of our business,” the statement read. “These values are key to fueling innovation, collaboration, and driving better outcomes for our team members, customers, and the communities we serve.”
Encore said it offered Thornton employment, but it is unclear if he accepted. The statement went on to say that the company is reviewing its grooming policies to “avoid potential miscommunications in the future.”
