EEOC Sues Apple for Firing Jewish Employee Over Sabbath Observance

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed on Tuesday a lawsuit against Apple, alleging the tech giant discriminated against a Jewish employee at its Reston, Virginia, store by refusing to accommodate his Sabbath observance and later firing him in retaliation.

According to the complaint, the 16-year veteran employee, who converted to Judaism in 2023, requested not to work on Fridays and Saturdays. His new manager denied the request, citing scheduling policies. Apple later disciplined him for grooming violations and terminated him in January 2024, shortly after he sought another religious accommodation.

“Employees should not have to violate their religious beliefs to keep their jobs,” said EEOC Regional Attorney Debra Lawrence.

The EEOC argues Apple’s actions violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which bars religious discrimination and retaliation. The case, EEOC v. Apple, Inc. (No. 1:25-cv-1637), was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia after failed settlement talks.