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The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed suit against Apple, alleging the tech company discriminated against a Jewish employee who asked for time off to observe the Sabbath.
According to the lawsuit, Tyler Steele worked at Apple’s Reston, Virginia store for 16 years, earning positive performance reviews in his role as a “genius” assisting customers with technical issues. Steele converted to Judaism in 2023 and requested not to work Fridays and Saturdays, which mark the Jewish Sabbath.
The complaint said his manager rejected the request, citing a new scheduling policy, and insisted Steele could not have both days off. Steele, concerned about losing his position, worked on the Sabbath despite his religious beliefs.
Allegations of grooming policy violations
The lawsuit claimed the manager also told Steele he smelled of body odor and ordered him not to discuss the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel with coworkers. Around the same time, Apple began disciplining him for alleged grooming violations.
Steele was dismissed in January 2024 for again violating grooming standards, the complaint said. The EEOC added that his termination followed shortly after he reminded his supervisor of a religious observance.
“Employees should not have to violate their religious beliefs to keep their jobs or live in fear of retribution because they requested an accommodation,” said Debra Lawrence, EEOC Philadelphia regional attorney.
Apple has denied the allegations. “We work hard to foster an inclusive environment where everyone is welcome, and we expect all of our employees to abide by our policies,” a spokesperson told The New York Post. “While we don’t discuss individual cases out of respect for the privacy of those involved, we strongly deny these claims.”
The company said it had received a dozen complaints from both customers and staff about Steele’s conduct, and that his behavior did not improve despite repeated coaching.
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EEOC focus on religious protections
The EEOC has accused Apple of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by failing to accommodate religious practices, discriminating based on religion and retaliating against an employee for raising concerns. The agency is seeking damages and back pay.
The commission frequently pursues workplace discrimination cases and has recently increased its emphasis on religious discrimination under Acting Chair Andrea Lucas, appointed by President Trump. In August, the agency issued a press release highlighting its commitment to defending religious liberty during the first 200 days of the Trump administration. Lucas said protections had “too often took a backseat to woke policies” under the Biden administration.
