Shegerian & Associates: Employee Rights Attorney on Chili's Server's Claims She Was Denied Promotion For the Way She Dressed

NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES, Jan. 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Meagan Hunter, a former server at Chili's Grill & Bar restaurant in Phoenix, AZ claims that she was denied a promotion because she did not dress "gender appropriate." The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a discrimination complaint with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission on behalf of Hunter.

The ACLU claims that Hunter was invited to apply for a management training program at Chili's. Hunter attended a seminar in the company's Certified Shift Leader program. While at the seminar, Hunter wore a men's button-up shirt, fitted slacks, and boat shoes, which is similar to what the male managers at Chili's typically wear.

Hunter's general manager told her that a district manager who had seen her at the seminar stated she was "inappropriately dressed." When Hunter was formally interviewed for a promotion, the general manager brought up her clothing choices, stating that if she got the job, Hunter would need to dress more "gender appropriate."

Shortly after this interview, Hunter left the position at Chili's that she had held for over two years. According to ACLU officials, "she was forced to quit because she didn't fit her boss's idea of what a woman should look like."

Carney Shegerian, the founder of Los Angeles-based employee rights law firm Shegerian & Associates, has weighed in on the case.

"Employees need to be aware that workplace discrimination can come in many forms, including discrimination based on gender norms," says Shegerian. "The comments to Hunter that her clothing was not 'gender appropriate' constitute workplace discrimination."

About Shegerian & Associates:
Shegerian & Associates has won clients over $200 million in employment-based disputes and maintains a 98% success rate. We have offices in Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside and New York. 

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SOURCE Shegerian & Associates