Federal government sues Chick-fil-A franchisee, alleging religious discrimination

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing a Chick-fil-A franchisee, alleging the company denied an employee's request not to be scheduled on Saturday so she could observe her sabbath. 

Chick-fil-A closes on Sundays, a policy going back 80 years. It was aimed at giving employees "one day to rest, enjoy time with their families and loved ones or worship if they choose," according to the company's website. 

The worker, a member of the United Church of God, was a manager at Hatch Trick, a Chick-fil-A franchisee with multiple locations in Austin, Texas. The worker's Christian denomination observes the sabbath on Saturday, the Wall Street Journal reported. 

Originally, Hatch Trick agreed to the employee's request but later tried to schedule her to work on Saturday hours. She appealed to management, according to the EEOC, but the company told her it would only honor the request if she accepted a lower-paying job with fewer hours and benefits. When she declined the offer, she was fired, the EEOC said. 

Chick-fil-A franchisees set their own employment policies, and Chick-fil-A isn't named in the lawsuit. 

Since assuming the position of chair at the EEOC, Andrea Lucas has prioritized actions against employers who interfere with employees expressing their religious beliefs. Lucas, a conservative Christian, has said the Biden administration overlooked religious discrimination.