An Apple Genius was terminated after alleged grooming violations, but the employee claimed the dismissal was rooted in religious discrimination because they requested time off for Shabbat. The lawsuit, originally filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in September 2025, centered on a 16‑year Apple employee who converted to Judaism in 2023 and repeatedly asked for Friday‑night to Saturday‑night leave to observe the Sabbath.

Apple agreed to settle the claim for $150,000, of which $80,000 is backpay subject to tax and $70,000 covers damages and interest. The company will also provide religious discrimination training, though it did not admit any wrongdoing.

The employee had a strong performance record and worked at the Reston, Virginia store for many years. After repeated denials of Shabbat leave, management issued grooming complaints that the plaintiff argued were a pretext for termination.

Apple maintains it acted within policy and the settlement resolves the dispute, with payment to be made within 30 days. The case highlights that even large firms like Apple are not immune from discrimination claims and the need for proper religious accommodation.