Employees in Ohio have various protections while they’re at work. One significant update to those protections has been proposed in the form of the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act. As of August 22, 2024, the proposal has made its way through the House and is currently in the Senate.
If passed, this law would protect employees from having to alter their racial or ethnic hair and from being discriminated against because of their hair texture or protective styles. This includes employees who wear their hair in locs, braids or twists.
What would the CROWN Act require?
The CROWN Act would require employers to be inclusive about hairstyles. They wouldn’t be allowed to create any policies or grooming standards that would lead to workers feeling pressured to change their hairstyle for work. This includes offering suggestions for hairstyles that would go against any protected hair characteristic.
Some employers will need to update policies and standards to reflect the new law if it’s passed. Manager and supervisor training on the topic could become a concern if this act is signed into law.
Even though the act isn’t formally a law, employees still have other protections against racial and ethnic discrimination. Any employee who’s suffering from discrimination or harassment because of their race, ethnicity or skin color should document the incidents and report them to the company. They may also opt to pursue legal action, so working with someone familiar with these matters is beneficial.