Official Statement from H&M on Customer Discriminated Against for PWD Child
H&M – The fashion company issued an official statement on a customer told to leave their store due to the stroller of her PWD child.
A netizen, identified as Sorened Ehya, recently took to social media to express her disappointment with H&M Philippines after an incident at the H&M store in Vista Mall, Sta. Rosa, Laguna. She shared that the store manager asked them to leave because of the stroller for her child, who is blind and deaf.
She questioned whether PWDs are not allowed to shop in the store and expressed frustration that instead of offering an apology, the manager told them not to shop there anymore. Sorened and her husband were upset as they couldn’t buy the clothes they intended for their child. She called on H&M Philippines to address the issue, expressing the lack of empathy they encountered.
In response, the fashion company issued an official statement to address the incident. H&M emphasized that they deeply appreciate all their customers and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and welcoming shopping experience. They explained that a recent misunderstanding occurred at one of their stores, where a staff member approached a customer about a large stroller without realizing it was for a child with a disability.
H&M expressed regret for any distress this may have caused and assured that they are reviewing the situation to learn from it. They have reminded their team about their accessibility policies to prevent similar issues in the future and are focused on improving their practices to better serve everyone. Customers with questions or concerns are encouraged to reach out to their customer service team.
The company’s post received mixed reactions from netizens. One netizen wrote, “Perhaps you ought to take into account the trauma you inflicted on those parents and their kids. Your policy isn’t the only factor. In this case, humanity is at issue..”