Couldn’t have said it better myself

Please read this awesome article by Death + Taxes

Ugly? Yes. Unflattering? Even More.

What was once reserved for toddlers now comes in not only adult sizes, but is see-through. Make sense? Of course not. No, this isn’t a new thumbsucking trend, but it does encompass the later part of that habit. Like any onesie, footed pajama, or overall item, these things are best left in a garbage bag, by the door, ready for pick up by the Salvation Army- but even then, it feels cruel to pass this onto anyone. Not even Lady Gaga could make this look cool, not even if she wanted, not even if she had superpowers.

Keith Fink is a Punk

What??

Dov Charney may the victim of blackmail

How??

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Companies can no longer pretend to be modern and simultaneously entertain an environment full of inappropriate behavior. The fashion industry is no exception, no matter what they claim to be selling (clothes, lifestyle, etc.) they still need to be decent to their fellow employees.

Ultimately, this blog is about respect. It’s about how people treat one another. Workers at AA and other companies deserve to be treated with courtesy. Dignity and professionalism breeds respect. When a work environment is both professional and accountable more work is accomplished, thus making the employees more productive, and in turn the company more successful.

Dov Charney may continue to be  a successful businessman but he will never be a respected businessman if he continues to harass female employees.

“Being brilliant is no great feat if you respect nothing” -Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Blacklisted

Jonny Makeup, heiress to AA, is still trying to be famous. His myspace features two of his R&B, Pop, and Soul tracks including the song blacklisted featuring lyrics like :

When it comes to boys I get so twisted, you don’t know me you’re blacklisted,

tell me was it worth it in the end, you were supposed to be my best friend…

Did he pleasure you like orally? Are you feeling really good like morally? You think you are so cute with your arm candy, but you’re a little ghetto like Kimora Lee.

The lyrics are pretty awful, but I don’t hate it as much as his other song ‘I seen Beyonce at burger king’. Doubtful that the heiress has a future in the music industry. It will be interesting to see what his role in American Apparel is in the future, and if he can achieve his desired Paris Hilton-like fame.

Jonny Makeup

American Apparel defends itself against ‘baseless’ lawsuit

Issuing a press release countering Roberto Hernandez, a former accountant for the retailer, AA claims the lawsuit is ‘frivolous’. Hernandez sued AA claiming wrongful termination. Hernandez was terminated on Nov. 9, 2006, after what he claims was because of his refusal to inflate figures on the company’s balance sheet. Allegedly Dov Charney was pressuring Hernandez to manipulate figures.

American Apparel’s press release denies all allegations and vows to defend itself in court; AA is confident that the allegations will be dismissed. Press Release.

AA has been criticized for it’s attempt to create a “materially misleading” press release claiming victory in an arbitration case, after already settling with the client for $1.3 million dollars. Hernandez could have a case, yet California’s laws on wrongful termination make it very easy for employees and lawyers to cash in on wrongful termination lawsuits. Sometimes it seems the rights of the employee outweigh the rights of the employers in such circumstances.

It is important that what’s right is decided but our justice system is not foolproof and I think in the context of this blog it is neccessary to remember that frivilous lawsuits happen far too often. Abusing the system discourages employers when they are sued unjustly, just as displeased employees that don’t receive justice feel helpless and give up.

Mission

Originally, the change agent for this blog was cited as Eric Watson of Endeavor Acquisition Corp. However Endeavor Acquisition Corp. was a shell company created by investors to offer up capital and acquire a private concern. Once American Apparel was finished going public Endeavor Acquisition Corp. was no long necessary, this is why I am now addressing the company’s board of directors, including the Chairman of the Board Dov Charney.

The purpose of this blog is to encourage a contemporary respectful work environment by raising awareness of the practices at AA. This blog relies on AA’s success, newsworthiness, and controversies to serve as an example of a modern company struggling with old-fashioned issues.

Whistleblowers

“more than two-thirds of whistleblowers, in a Research Triangle Institute study, experienced at least one negative outcome as a direct result of their actions. Plus, 43% reported that institutions encouraged them to drop the allegation.”

People should not be punished for speaking up about sexual harassment, I am calling on American Apparel board of directors to make it mandatory for workers at American Apparel be protected for speaking up about sexual harassment in the workplace, as to make the AA environment safe and friendly. American Apparel already pays workers fair wages and is anti sweat shop but if it pledged to be non-hostile and protect workers from harassment it could come full circle and gain a reputation as a company worth supporting both in principle and in practice. I think the board would like to see even more fiscal support of AA in this economy as well as more positive articles written about the company. Recently, the company has been getting almost all bad press surrounding CEO Dov Charney’s lewd conduct. A sexual harassment free pledge would make AA a better place, and would put it one step closer to being a modern, fair, and fruitful company.

How to be unsexy

Sexual harassment is unsexy. It’s like that boy or girl that got way too into you way too fast and then everything they did seemed creepy instead of cute, not too mention unwelcome. Also it’s like that boss that conducted the interview in his underwear (ahem, Dov Charney). Regardless, here are the basics of sexual harassment so you don’t get caught being unsexy with anyone in the workplace.

Meet sexual harrasment, a form of “unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is severe or pervasive and affects working conditions or creates a hostile work environment.”

“Verbal or written: Comments about clothing, personal behavior, or a person’s body; sexual or sex-based jokes; requesting sexual favors or repeatedly asking a person out; sexual innuendoes; telling rumors about a person’s personal or sexual life; threatening a person

Physical: Assault; impeding or blocking movement; inappropriate touching of a person or a person’s clothing; kissing, hugging, patting, stroking

Nonverbal: Looking up and down a person’s body; derogatory gestures or facial expressions of a sexual nature; following a person

Visual: Posters, drawings, pictures, screensavers or emails of a sexual nature

Federal Law

The federal law prohibiting sexual harassment in the workplace is Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, as amended.The law makes certain employers responsible for preventing and stopping sexual harassment that occurs on the job.

Title VII applies to private and most public employers, labor organizations, employment agencies, and joint employer-union apprenticeship programs with 15 or more employees.

California State Law

The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) prohibits sexual harassment in employment.FEHA applies to private public employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, state licensing boards, and state and local governments that have 1 or more employees.Unlike Title VII, FEHA provides protection against sexual harassment for persons who provide services pursuant to a contract.”

For more information see Equal Rights

“Hey, these clothes are 100% cotton, which means you need to look slutty”

I laughed.

Charney has been known for his alternative advertisements that feature employees and other subjects chosen personally by Charney usually from local LA streets and hangouts. Charney shoots many of the photos himself and is known for his lack of airbrushing

Thoughts on the matter:

• “If you’re seasick, don’t join the Navy,” said Ilse Metchek, the executive director of the California Fashion Association, a trade group Mr. Charney belongs to. “Yes, he’s a bizarre person, but that’s no secret,” she said. “It’s there for you to see when you sign on for this opportunity.”

• Hannah Rappleye, an 18-year-old sophomore at New School University who worked as a sales associate in an American Apparel store in New York…”At first they make you feel special,” Ms. Rappleye said. “If you were chosen to work for the company, that meant that you were attractive enough to sell sex successfully. But after a while,” she said, “it feels disgusting.”