Retail brand Everlane is facing backlash after a group of former employees, who called themselves “Everlane Ex-Wives Club”, accused the company of racism in the workplace with several members of the group.
What We Know:
- The “Ex-Wives Club” released a lengthy Google document about their different experiences with the retail brand. It stated numerous displays of racism or micro-aggressions.
- The group itself is made up of former Black, POC, and white allied employees.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCCwEiMBQbX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
- The document against the retail brand stated how a Black woman experienced uncomfortable situations with the Chief creative officer when she would “plunge” her hands into the woman’s hair and pulled her roots with the additional comment of them being “soul sisters”. The stories go on up to ideas being stolen by white colleagues.
- The group demanded the CEO issue a full apology by June 25. However, the apology was not posted until late Sunday night with the following:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCAibNTJ2o2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
- The Former employees commented after the apology was issued by the CEO Michael Preysman on how it is “still clearly clouded in avoidant behavior” and how it “lacked heart and a plan for action”.
- The retail company joins a string of companies that have been accused of discrimination and prejudice such as Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters.
- Many supported the boycott due to the lack of transparency from the company as well as their lack of compassion towards the individuals who were affected by the racial remarks. This caused the company to later retract their statement from the previous statement of the CEO.
“We have hired outside counsel to begin an independent and immediate investigation. No matter the result, we know as a brand, a company and a country, we have work to do.”
- According to USA Today, this is not the first time Everlane has come under fire. They were recently called out by Senator Bernie Sanders for firing dozens of customer experience workers and blaming it on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Multiple companies have come under fire due to discriminatory remarks against their employees and many have promised to change their policies and enforcing others.
