Abercrombie & Fitch Sued By Disabled Clerk

(NEWSER) - The London woman banished to the Abercrombie & Fitch stockroom because of her prosthetic arm has been awarded more $13,000 by an employment tribunal, the BBC reports. Riam Dean wore a cardigan to cover the joint between her prosthesis and her body, but the sweater clashed with the retailer’s “look policy.” The tribunal found that policy a violation of employment law, but did not find discrimination. More»

Brit won nearly $15K for wrongful dismissal

(NEWSER) - The 22-year-old British student with a prosthetic arm who won nearly $15,000 in a discrimination lawsuit against Abercrombie & Fitch compares its working conditions to a sweatshop. “I found it disturbing,” Riam Dean tells the Daily Mail. “There were so many people in such a tiny space. People were on their hands and knees, or carrying huge piles of clothes. It was hot and sweaty.” But Dean says she consistently refused Abercrombie’s attempts to settle her case because she wanted to teach it a lesson for firing her over her disability. More»

Server goes on 'weight probation,' considers suit

(NEWSER) - A Hooters server is considering a weight discrimination suit against the company after bosses told her she needed to slim down. Cassie Smith, who is 5-8 and 132 pounds, says she was told, "Your shorts and shirt size could use some improvement." The company gave her a free gym membership and a 30-day ultimatum: Get thinner or work somewhere else. More»

Employers likely to ditch written tests altogether to avoid discrimination suits

(NEWSER) - Yesterday's Supreme Court ruling in favor of a group of white firefighters looks likely to be a boon for employment lawyers instead of cities seeking clear guidance, experts tell the New York Times. The court's ruling makes it harder for employers to chuck out tests that overwhelmingly favor whites, and many are expected to instead revamp their entire selection process to avoid discrimination suits. More»

Extra 4 inches adds 2%-3% in hourly wages for women and men, Aussie study says

(NEWSER) - Taller workers have a leg up when it comes to paychecks, AFP reports. An Australian study has found that every additional 4 inches of height adds 3% to a man's hourly wage and 2% to a woman's. Five inches of extra height earns a man the salary of a worker with an extra year's experience. Surprisingly, the survey of more than 20,000 Australians found that obese employees fared no worse in wages. More»