Chick-fil-A franchisee sued for religious discrimination over Saturday work

The U.S. government has filed a lawsuit against a Chick-fil-A franchisee for allegedly refusing to accommodate an employee’s request to avoid working on Saturdays for religious reasons.

The suit, brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), claims that Hatch Trick Inc. violated federal law by denying the employee’s request to refrain from Saturday work due to her religious beliefs.

The employee is a member of the United Church of God, which observes the Sabbath on Saturdays, the EEOC said in a statement.

The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting workplace discrimination.

According to the EEOC, the employee requested not to be scheduled for Saturday work during her initial job interview in August 2023.

Hatch Trick accommodated the request for several months but then required her to work on Saturdays starting in February 2024, despite her request for religious accommodation, the agency alleges.

The employee managed delivery drivers at one of Hatch Trick’s Chick-fil-A locations in Austin, Texas.

Court documents indicate she worked 45 to 50 hours per week, Monday through Friday, plus some Sunday hours, and was paid hourly.

When she appealed to management, Hatch Trick told her she could not maintain her managerial role without working Saturdays, offering her a delivery driver position with lower pay, reduced benefits, and fewer hours, the EEOC said.

The employee proposed alternative accommodations, such as having a driver cover the dispatch role on Saturdays or working only after sundown on that day, according to the complaint.

The EEOC said Hatch Trick fired her after she declined the driver position.

“Religious discrimination in the workplace is unlawful, and employers must make reasonable accommodations for employees’ sincerely held beliefs,” EEOC San Antonio Field Office Director Norma Guzman said.

The Sabbath is considered a holy day of rest in Christianity, with most Christians observing it on Sunday. Chick-fil-A closes on Sunday to allow employees to observe the Sabbath, stating on its website that the policy gives them time “to rest, enjoy time with their families and loved ones or worship if they choose.”

Chick-fil-A declined to comment to the BBC but told ABC affiliate KVUE in a statement: “It’s important to know that, as a franchise business, all employment decisions are solely the responsibility of each individual restaurant owner.”

The BBC has sought comment from Hatch Trick Inc.