Apple Settles Religious Discrimination Suit for $150,000 Over Sabbath Work Dispute

Apple has agreed to pay $150,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleging religious discrimination against a Jewish employee at one of its Virginia stores. The case centers on Tyler Steele, who began working at the Apple store in Reston, Virginia, in 2007 as an "Apple Genius." After converting to Judaism in 2023, Steele requested not to work on Fridays and Saturdays to observe the Sabbath. However, a new store manager hired that year allegedly denied these requests, made antisemitic remarks, and required Steele to work on the Sabbath.

According to the EEOC, the manager also accused Steele of body odor and warned him not to discuss the Hamas attack on Israel with coworkers in October 2023. The conflict escalated in January 2024 when Steele was fired shortly after refusing to work on a Friday. The EEOC charged Apple with religious discrimination and unlawful retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The commission sought back pay, compensatory damages, and punitive damages for what it described as "malicious and reckless conduct."

The settlement was disclosed in a joint filing by Apple and the EEOC on Friday in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, nearly a year after the EEOC filed the lawsuit. Apple denied wrongdoing throughout the legal process. This case is part of a broader EEOC initiative to address religious discrimination, especially under Chair Andrea Lucas, who has emphasized such issues since her appointment by former President Donald Trump. The EEOC has secured over $25 million in settlements related to employer COVID-19 vaccine mandates since last year.

Neither Apple nor the EEOC immediately responded to requests for comment following the settlement announcement. The payment resolves serious allegations against the conduct of a store manager without Apple admitting any fault.