US agency sues Apple for alleged discrimination against Jewish worker

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has initiated a lawsuit against Apple, alleging workplace discrimination against a Jewish employee at their Reston, Virginia retail location. The complaint, filed in federal court in Alexandria, accuses the store's manager of making antisemitic remarks and denying the employee's requests for time off, ultimately leading to his termination. The employee, identified as Tyler Steele, was reportedly subjected to derogatory comments about body odor and was forced to work on the Jewish Sabbath. Furthermore, the manager allegedly warned Steele against discussing the recent Hamas attack on Israel with his colleagues. The lawsuit claims these actions constitute violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits religious discrimination and retaliation. The EEOC is pursuing unspecified back pay and additional damages for Steele, including punitive damages for what they describe as 'malicious and reckless conduct' by Apple. As of now, Apple has not provided any comments regarding the lawsuit. Under the leadership of Acting Chair Andrea Lucas, the EEOC has intensified its focus on religious discrimination claims. Lucas, appointed by former President Donald Trump, has previously expressed concerns that religious protections have been overlooked in favor of progressive policies during the Biden administration. Steele began his tenure at the Reston Apple store in 2007, working as an 'Apple Genius' who offered technical support to customers. In 2023, after converting to Judaism, he began facing challenges when the new manager denied his requests to abstain from working on Fridays and Saturdays, which are sacred to the Jewish faith. Despite raising concerns with Apple management on two separate occasions, Steele's situation did not improve. The EEOC states that he was ultimately terminated in January 2024, shortly after he declined to work on a Friday due to his religious observance.