Teenage fast food worker sent home over ‘unnatural’ hair colour in braids
A teenage fast food worker says she was ordered to go home mid-shift after supervisors told her that her hair colour was "unnatural".
Autumn Williams had been working at the Chick-Fil-A in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania when she was approached and told the blonde in her braided hair went against company guidelines and was classed as a "uniform violation". However, when Autumn attempted to argue her rights and the fact her hair was actually brown, she was told to leave.
The 16-year-old explained how management at the fast food chicken joint told her to return to work when the colour could be removed. Sharing an image of her braids and their colour at the time of the dispute, Autumn revealed her hair to be a natural shade of light brown - saying her natural hair colour was actually blonde.
Autumn told Queen City News: "He was like hey one of our supervisors came by and noticed blonde in your hair and has asked you to leave and come back when it's taken out because it's an unnatural colour to you.
Autumn said other employees were not told to leave over dye in their hair (YouTube/Fox)"I don't know what blonde is in my hair because my braids are brown. In the handbook - and the guy, when I had orientation, never said anything." Autumn also turned to her HR team, who told her to refer to the employee handbook on how to dress and present for work. The handbook states "Unnatural hair colours or styles (e.g., mohawks, shaven designs, etc) are not permitted".
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When her management team insisted she change her hair colour, Autumn decided to quit her job. Now she says she is still searching for answers and trying to understand why the brown braids were deemed to be of an 'unnatural colour'.
Autumn said management did not comment on her hair during her interview or orientation (YouTube/Fox)Autumn claimed other workers at the fast food branch also had unnatural and dyed hair, but she was 'singled out', adding: "I was glad that I didn't have to change myself to fit into someone else's idea or image of what it's like to be a Chick-Fil-A worker
In a statement, Chick-Fil-A wrote: "The operator reached out to Williams today and had a good conversation. In further detail, the operator explained the policy was misinterpreted and said Williams was not terminated and she was more than welcome to come back and work at the restaurant."
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