California is the first state to ban discrimination against natural hairstyles. This new law is called the CROWN (Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural
Hair) Act and was signed into law July 3rd, 2019 taking effect January 1 , 2020.
According to Governor Newsom, this Act is intended to prohibit employers from enforcing “purportedly ‘race neutral’ grooming policies that disproportionately impact persons of color.” This new law applies to the workplace and schools K-12th grade.
These “protective hairstyles” include but are not limited to:
-Afros
-Braids
-Dreadlocks
-Twists
Employer Takeaways:
-Train managers and hiring staff about the CROWN Act to prevent biases during hiring decisions.
-Review policies and handbooks to ensure policies are inclusive of all cultures and protected classes.
-Have a procedure in place in case natural hair discrimination claims are raised in the workplace.