Apple Settles Religious Discrimination Case, Pays $150K to Jewish Employee Fired for Observing Sabbath

Apple has agreed to pay $150,000 in a settlement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission following a lawsuit alleging religious discrimination against a Jewish employee. The case involved Tyler Steel, a technician employed since 2007, who converted to Judaism in 2023. After a new manager took over a Virginia branch that year, Steel's requests not to work on Fridays and Saturdays were denied. The manager reportedly made offensive remarks and explicitly forbade Steel from discussing the Hamas terror attack on October 7 with colleagues.

The conflict escalated in January 2024 when Steel was fired shortly after refusing to work a Friday shift. The EEOC filed a lawsuit accusing the manager of unlawful termination and antisemitic behavior, seeking damages and punitive penalties. Apple denied any wrongdoing but chose to settle the case nearly a year after the lawsuit was filed. The settlement was submitted to a federal court in Virginia, with no further comments from either party.

This case highlights ongoing challenges related to religious accommodation and workplace discrimination in the U.S., particularly concerning observance of the Sabbath and antisemitism.