Apple religious discrimination lawsuit settlement

Apple has agreed to a $150,000 settlement to resolve a federal lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleging religious discrimination and retaliation.

The lawsuit involved Tyler Steele, an Apple Store employee in Reston, Virginia, who requested accommodations to observe the Shabbat. While the request was initially granted, a manager reportedly rescinded the arrangement and used derogatory language. The EEOC alleged that after Steele complained about antisemitic behavior and the denial of accommodations, the company issued a misconduct warning regarding body odor and terminated his employment in January 2024.

The settlement includes $80,000 in back pay and $70,000 in compensatory damages and interest. As part of the agreement, Apple must review its religious accommodation policies and conduct employee training in the Northern Virginia retail market. The company is also required to report any denials of religious accommodation requests or complaints of religious discrimination to the EEOC for a period of two years. Although Apple agreed to the settlement, court documents indicate the company denies any wrongdoing and the agreement does not constitute an admission of misconduct.