Lawsuit against Chick-fil-a franchisee is latest Title VII case over Saturday Sabbath
The EEOC says Hatch Trick rejected alternatives and demoted then fired a manager after she sought Saturdays off for religious observance.
- On May 14, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Hatch Trick, Inc., an Austin-based Chick-fil-A franchisee, alleging religious discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
- Employee Laurel Torode, a member of the United Church of God, initially secured Saturdays off during her hiring, but after five months, Hatch Trick demanded she work Saturdays, contradicting their earlier agreement.
- When Torode proposed alternatives to retain her managerial role while observing her Sabbath, Hatch Trick rejected them, instead offering a non-managerial position with "lower pay, reduced benefits and fewer hours."
- Following her refusal of the demotion, Torode was fired in February 2024; Chick-fil-A, Inc. declined comment, clarifying that employment decisions remain the sole responsibility of individual franchise owners.
- The EEOC lawsuit seeks compensation for Torode, including back pay, as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 mandates employers provide reasonable religious accommodations unless doing so causes undue hardship.
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Chick-fil-A franchisee sued after allegedly firing employee over Sabbath observance · American Wire News
A former Chick-fil-A employee is part of a federal lawsuit against the Texas franchise where she worked after allegedly being fired when she declined to accept shifts that would violate her religious beliefs. While the chicken eatery is well-known for being closed on Sundays to allow employees to be with families and “worship if they choose,” an Austin Chick-fil-A franchise is being sued by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission after …
Fox Business
Chick-fil-A franchisee sued after allegedly firing employee over Sabbath observance
A Texas Chick-fil-A franchise operator is facing a federal lawsuit over allegations that it refused to accommodate an employee’s religious beliefs before ultimately firing her.According to a complaint filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and obtained by FOX Business, Hatch Trick, Inc. — which operates several Chick-fil-A restaurants in the Austin area — allegedly discriminated against employee Laurel Torode, whose faith pr…
Feds sue Texas Chick-fil-A franchisee for religious discrimination after denying request for Saturday Sabbath
A Chick-fil-A franchisee in Austin, Texas, allegedly violated federal law by refusing to accommodate an employee’s religious request to observe the Sabbath on Saturday and then fired her after she declined a demotion, according to a federal lawsuit.
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