Lenskart Permits Religious Symbols as Part of Company Culture

Lenskart Amends Dress Code Policy After Backlash Over Religious Expression

In response to criticism over alleged restrictions on religious expression, Lenskart has made its in-store dress and grooming policy public. The move comes days after social media posts and employee accounts raised concerns that certain religious symbols were not being treated equally during internal audits.

The controversy began after a user on social media platform X shared an internal document related to Lenskart's style guide. The document allegedly allowed certain religious attire, such as black hijabs, but did not mention Hindu religious markers like tilak or bindi. Following this, several current and former employees shared their experiences publicly, claiming that audit scores were impacted due to religious expressions.

According to the newly shared guidelines, employees are allowed to wear religious and cultural markers such as bindi, tilak, sindoor, kalawa, mangalsutra, kada, hijab, and turban while at work. The company emphasizes that these are not exceptions but an integral part of its workplace identity. Lenskart operates more than 2,400 stores, and employees bring their traditions and beliefs to work daily.

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| Lenskart Style Guide Comparison (alleged vs. updated) | | --- | --- | | Alleged Style Guide | Updated Style Guide | | Allows black hijabs | Allows bindi, tilak, sindoor, kalawa, mangalsutra, kada, hijab, and turban | | Does not mention Hindu religious markers | Includes Hindu religious markers |

In a statement, the company acknowledged that earlier communication around workplace policies may have caused concern among employees and apologized to those affected. Lenskart's co-founder, Peyush Bansal, addressed the issue publicly, stating that the document circulating online was an outdated internal training file and not an official HR policy.

Bansal acknowledged that the oversight should have been identified earlier and said the company takes responsibility for the confusion caused. Despite this, Lenskart has not released a detailed response addressing the specific allegations made by individual employees. The company said its updated style guide reflects its current stance and will be implemented consistently across stores, with a commitment to reviewing policies regularly.