Urban Outfitters responds to allegations of profiling Black customers with code names

In recent weeks, social media users identifying themselves as former employees at the company have shared experiences.where their colleagues used the code names “Nick,” “Nicky” or “Nicole” to disproportionately profile Black shoppers.The news comes amid similar allegations against employees at Anthropologie, which, along with Urban Outfitters and Free People, are all owned by URBN.In a statement to Today, Urban confirmed that the code names, along with similar ones.are used to refer to potential shoplifters but expressed disappointment at the fact that the policy had been “misused”.“Urban Outfitters absolutely rejects racism, racial discrimination and profiling of any form, and we have revised our shoplifting prevention policy to eliminate the use of any code words”.The company said it would make an effort to foster diversity and inclusion at the company by conducting a third-party review of its store practices.organizing mandatory diversity training and hiring more employees of diverse backgrounds