A 16-year-old girl said she was “very embarrassed” after her Chick-fil-A supervisor instructed her to go home because her blond hair was “unnatural.” Autumn Williams and her mother Nina Burch told TODAY.com that the teen’s hair is “brownish-blond” or “dark blond,” and that she wears it in box braids.
They further stated that the teen wore box braids to an orientation event held by the company roughly two months ago. Williams stated that the only hair policy she was aware of concerned her hair being pulled back from her face. That directive made sense to the teen.
But she said that while at work on July 13, her manager called her for a private conversation. “She said, ‘Our supervisor drove by yesterday and noticed blond in your hair and since blond is an unnatural color to you, we have to ask you to take the blond out of your hair and then come back when there’s none,’” Williams recalled.
“She said, ‘We understand that’s a long process for you so take your time and you can email me when you’re ready to come back.’”
Williams also said the incident made her panic. “It was very stressful — it made me feel like there was something wrong with me and my appearance,” she said.
Williams contacted her mother to come take her up, as instructed by her supervisor. Burch stated that after arriving at the restaurant, she called the supervisor for clarification. However, she claimed that the supervisor did not explain the decision during the phone call.
“We already had a conversation about your hair. If there’s any confusion, you can refer to the handbook,” Burch quoted the supervisor as saying.
Burch also provided a screenshot of a grooming policy she said the company has outlined. The policy reads: “Hairstyles must be neat and professional in appearance. Unnatural hair colors or eccentric styles (e.g., Mohawks, shaven designs, etc.) are not permitted.”
Burch told TODAY.com that her interpretation of “unnatural” refers to colors such as hot pink or blue, as well as unnatural hair growth. She also stated that her daughter’s hair has never been colored.
Following the event, Williams said the store owner contacted her and told her she could return to work if she so desired. “He was apologetic, saying this shouldn’t have happened,” she explained.
The firm also stated that Williams was not dismissed and that she was informed she could return to work when the store owner determined the policy was not properly enforced. The owner also described the incident as a teaching moment for his employees.
However, Williams stated that returning to work would make her feel uneasy. “No one should be able to tell you what you are based on your appearance.”
The teen’s mother also stated that they contacted the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to submit a complaint and determine whether “there’s a route we should pursue legally.”