Apple Faces EEOC Lawsuit For Religious Discrimination Against Jewish Employee Denied Sabbath Accommodations

Apple has been served with a lawsuit by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on Tuesday over allegations of religious discrimination against a Jewish employee at one of its retail stores.

The federal lawsuit claims that the manager of Apple's Reston, Virginia store made antisemitic remarks toward employee Tyler Steele, refused his requests for religious accommodations, and ultimately terminated his employment after he declined to work during the Jewish Sabbath.

According to the EEOC filing in Alexandria federal court, the store manager told Steele that he had body odor, compelled him to work during Sabbath hours, and instructed him not to discuss the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel with fellow employees.

The legal action alleges violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, specifically citing religious discrimination and retaliation. The EEOC is pursuing back pay and additional damages for Steele, including punitive damages for what they describe as "malicious and reckless conduct."

When contacted about the allegations, Apple did not provide a response.

Under Acting Chair Andrea Lucas, appointed during the Trump administration, the EEOC has increased its focus on religious discrimination cases. Lucas stated in August that "religious protections too often took a backseat to woke policies" during President Biden's administration.

The lawsuit details that Steele began his employment at the Reston Apple store in 2007 as an "Apple Genius" providing customer support and technical assistance. He converted to Judaism in 2023.

A manager hired that same year reportedly denied Steele's requests for time off during the Jewish Sabbath, which extends from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.

Despite Steele filing two complaints with Apple regarding the manager's conduct, the situation remained unchanged. According to the EEOC, Steele was fired in January 2024, shortly after refusing to work on a Friday due to his religious observance.