Lenskart shares latest store workers’ style guide:Stores allow team members to wear bindi, tilak, sindoor, everything without discrimination

Following massive online backlash over controversial HR policy document, eyewear retailer Lenskart has issued a public apology. The eyeglass retail chain released an ‘In-Store Style Guide’ that allows employees to wear religious and cultural symbols at work. After backlash, Lenskart makes guidelines public: In a statement on X, the company said it is making its guidelines public and transparent to address the concerns of its customers and community. The new policy “explicitly and unambiguously” welcomes all symbols of faith carried by team members, including the bindi, tilak, sindoor, kalawa, mangalsutra, kada, hijab, and turban. “If any version of our workplace communication caused hurt or made any of our team members feel that their faith was unwelcome here, we are deeply sorry. That is not who Lenskart is, and it is not who we will ever be,” the company said.
Lenskart has gotten embroiled in a controversy over its alleged dress code. An alleged policy document of the company has gone viral on social media. As per the documents, employees have been prohibited from wearing bindi, tilak, and kalava, while hijab and turban have been permitted with conditions. The controversy escalated when activist Shefali Vaidya shared a screenshot of it on X. She asked the company’s founder – Peyush Bansal, can you clarify why hijab is acceptable at Lenskart but bindi and kalava are not? Following this, people trolled Lenskart and questioned the company’s policy. Netizens pointed out that the policy restricted employees from wearing certain religious markers, particularly the bindi and tilak, sparking outrage and calls for a boycott. Addressing the uproar, Lenskart founder Peyush Bansal stepped in to clarify that the viral document was an “outdated version” and did not reflect the company’s current stance. “I want to speak directly that this document does not reflect our present guidelines. Our policy has no restrictions on any form of religious expression, including bindi and tilak,” Bansal had stated, apologising for the confusion and concern the situation had caused. Lenskart has 2,400-plus stores: “Lenskart was built in Bharat, by Indians, for Indians… That is not something we will ever ask anyone to leave at the door,” Lenskart’s latest statement read. “We will do better. And we will keep earning your trust,” the company added.