Last month, Cuyahoga County Council voted 10-1 to adopt the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (“CROWN”) Act. This makes Cuyahoga the first county in Ohio to prohibit discrimination based on hair texture or hairstyles commonly associated with a particular race or national origin.
Key Takeaways Relevant to Employees
- The ordinance specifically lists hairstyles and textures such as braids, locs, twists, Bantu knots, or afros as examples of protected hair textures or styles.
- The protection applies in employment, housing, and public accommodations. The ordinance only applies to employers with four or more employees in Cuyahoga County.
- The ordinance treats hair texture and hairstyle discrimination as a form of race or national-origin discrimination.
- Employers may maintain appearance, grooming, and dress code policies, but these must be applied in a race-neutral manner, must not disproportionately impact protected hairstyles or textures, and must be based on legitimate business needs.
Why the CROWN Act Matters
It Fills a Gap
Ohio does not have a statewide CROWN Act. This local ordinance gives employees in Cuyahoga County enforceable rights against hair-based discrimination in the workplace.
It Promotes Inclusion in the Workplace
Many jobseekers and employees have reported being pressured to alter their hair, adopt “professional” (often Eurocentric) styles, or have faced discipline or missed promotions due to grooming policies. For example, a recent survey of 1,324 Black women in Northeast Ohio found that 68% of respondents had experienced inappropriate comments about their hair at work, and 51% faced retaliation after objecting to such comments. [1]
Actionable Protections
Employees are no longer limited to reporting concerns internally. The ordinance assigns complaints to the Cuyahoga County Human Rights Commission for investigation, mediation, hearings, and to impose civil penalties as needed.
The Bigger Picture
Cuyahoga County is currently the only county in Ohio with a CROWN Act or similar law, but protections are expanding. The movement began in 2019 when California enacted the first CROWN Act, and since then, about two dozen states have adopted similar laws. In Ohio, while there is no statewide CROWN Act, several cities – including Akron, Cincinnati, and Cleveland Heights – have passed ordinances prohibiting hair-based discrimination.
For more information, or to seek counsel from our Employment practice group, please reach out to request a consultation or call us at 216-696-1422.
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[1] https://www.olbcfoundation.org/post/olbcf-applauds-cuyahoga-county-s-historic-passage-of-ohio-s-first-crown-act; https://www.projectnoircle.org/_files/ugd/a41a72_8fbdfe8156b542f0af33e50c2b6f57a5.pdf
