Eyewear retailer Lenskart has publicly released a revised style guide and issued an apology, reiterating that employees are free to wear all symbols of faith across its stores.
File image: Lenskart CEO Peyush Bansal | ANI
Facing criticism over alleged restrictions on religious symbols for store staff, eyewear retailer Lenskart has issued a revised in-store style guide, stating that employees are free to wear markers of faith such as bindi, tilak and hijab.
The clarification comes days after a social media controversy around an internal document triggered questions over the company’s workplace policies. With its latest statement, the firm has sought to publicly define its position and calm concerns among employees and customers.
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In a statement dated April 18, the company said, “We have heard you. Clearly and openly. Over the past few days, our community and customers have spoken – and we have listened. Today, we are standardising our In-Store Style Guide and sharing it publicly and transparently.”
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The retailer underlined that its guidelines “explicitly and unambiguously welcome every symbol of faith and culture our team members carry – bindi, tilak, sindoor, kalawa, mangalsutra, kada, hijab, turban, and more.”
It added, “Not as exceptions. As who we are. Lenskart was built in Bharat, by Indians, for Indians. Our 2400+ stores are run by people who bring their beliefs, their traditions, their identity to work every day. That is not something we will ever ask anyone to leave at the door.”
The company also acknowledged that its earlier communication may have caused discomfort among staff.
“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 statement read.
It further said the company would ensure that “every policy, every training material, and every communication” reflects these values going forward, while committing to consistent implementation and review.
Earlier, on April 16, founder and CEO Peyush Bansal addressed the issue, saying the document circulating online was an outdated internal training file and not an official HR policy.
“I have listened to your concerns, and I understand your sentiment around this. I want to add more context to my earlier post. The document currently circulating is an outdated internal training document. It is not an HR policy. That said, it contained an incorrect line about bindi/tilak that should never have been written and does not reflect our values or actual practice. When we discovered this on February 17, well before this became a public conversation, we immediately removed it,” he said.
Taking responsibility, he added, “But I should have caught this earlier. As Founder and CEO, the responsibility for such lapses is mine.”
Bansal reiterated that the company does not restrict religious expression. “Let me be absolutely clear. Lenskart does not and will never restrict any form of respectful religious expression. This includes bindi, tilak, or any such symbols of faith. Our team members have always been, and will always be, free to express their beliefs with pride. I also want to thank everyone who raised this. Your voice helps us improve and stay true to what we stand for.”
He also said the company is reviewing how the content appeared in its training material and tightening internal checks.
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