Whole Food doubles down on its dress code
Bloomberg/Getty Images
Last month, Whole Foods filed a claim saying that the National Labor Relations Board violated the company’s First Amendment rights, reports Bloomberg. The company says that it is unconstitutional for the board to “compel” speech about Black Lives Matter — and that being forced to allow workers to wear “a political message in conjunction with” the Whole Foods uniform infringes upon its trademarks. Whole Foods representatives also state that wearing Black Lives Matter apparel is not protected under the National Labor Relations Act because it has to do with politics and social justice rather than workplace conditions.
Bloomberg reports that Whole Foods plans to fight the lawsuit during a court hearing in March of this year. Depending on its results, the case could help create a new precedent for workers, as the labor board prosecutor alleges that “racial justice advocacy” is well within employees’ workplace rights. Time will tell what happens next, but it looks like both sides are planted firmly in their stances.
Whole Foods Just Made A Surprising Claim About This Controversial Policy
Alastair Wallace/Shutterstock
By Erich Barganier/Jan. 10, 2022 5:32 pm EST
Per Business Insider, the National Labor Relations Board alleged that Whole Foods acted illegally and violated workers’ rights by banning employees from wearing the printed apparel. In 2022, the case is still moving along. Most recently, Whole Foods has responded to the NLRB by doubling down on its controversial dress code policies, accusing the board of infringing upon its rights as a company (via Bloomberg).
Whole Food doubles down on its dress code
Bloomberg/Getty Images
Last month, Whole Foods filed a claim saying that the National Labor Relations Board violated the company’s First Amendment rights, reports Bloomberg. The company says that it is unconstitutional for the board to “compel” speech about Black Lives Matter — and that being forced to allow workers to wear “a political message in conjunction with” the Whole Foods uniform infringes upon its trademarks. Whole Foods representatives also state that wearing Black Lives Matter apparel is not protected under the National Labor Relations Act because it has to do with politics and social justice rather than workplace conditions.
Bloomberg reports that Whole Foods plans to fight the lawsuit during a court hearing in March of this year. Depending on its results, the case could help create a new precedent for workers, as the labor board prosecutor alleges that “racial justice advocacy” is well within employees’ workplace rights. Time will tell what happens next, but it looks like both sides are planted firmly in their stances.
Bloomberg reports that Whole Foods plans to fight the lawsuit during a court hearing in March of this year. Depending on its results, the case could help create a new precedent for workers, as the labor board prosecutor alleges that “racial justice advocacy” is well within employees’ workplace rights. Time will tell what happens next, but it looks like both sides are planted firmly in their stances.
