Retail Shoppers in New York City Will Find Display of 'customers' Bill of Rights

Retail shoppers in New York City will find display of “Customers’ Bill of Rights” when they visit Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Gap, Barneys, and Lord & Taylor stores this holiday season.

The Bill has been drafted by the National Action Network & Rev. Al Sharpton, along with other civil rights groups and the Retail Council of New York, in the wake of allegations that some black shoppers were questioned for purchasing pricey items.

The one-page document declares: “Profiling is an unacceptable practice and will not be tolerated.”

“Profiling” is defined generally as the practice of judging and addressing people based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, ancestry, appearance, or any personal or physical characteristics.

According to the Bill, the retailers commit to ensuring that all shoppers, guests, and employees are treated with respect and dignity and are free from unreasonable searches, profiling, and discrimination of any kind in their stores.

The Bill strictly prohibits unreasonable searches and/or the profiling of customers by any employee. The participation by employees in such activities or the failure to report such instances of which they have knowledge is a violation of company’s policy, according to the Bill.

“Employees who violate the company’s prohibition on profiling will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment,” reads a clause in the Bill.

Further, the retailers will use their internal programs to test compliance with their strict prohibition against profiling practices.