Buffalo Wild Wings Settles Religious Discrimination Lawsuit for $47,500
Buffalo Wild Wings has agreed to pay $47,500 to settle a lawsuit regarding religious discrimination filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This settlement follows a claim made by a woman who said she was denied a job at a restaurant in Douglasville, Georgia, due to her religious beliefs, which required her to wear long skirts.
The woman, who remains unnamed, reported that she applied for a server position at the popular restaurant. According to her complaint, she was never interviewed or contacted about the job. Her daughter, who worked at the same location, introduced her mother to the general manager during a work event, but the application process did not progress further.
The complaint highlighted that the woman is a member of the Free Holiness church, which mandates its followers to wear skirts that reach ankle-length or below the knee. The EEOC stated that the general manager recognized that a position was available but allegedly made fun of her religious practices.
In discussions with the restaurant’s management, the assistant manager reportedly told the woman’s daughter that hiring someone who wore long skirts was unusual for a sports bar, raising concerns about potential bias. Within the two months following the application, the restaurant hired five new servers, which the woman believed suggested her application was unfairly dismissed due to her religious attire.
The EEOC took action, filing a lawsuit in federal court after unsuccessful attempts to reach a settlement beforehand. Their statement reinforced that under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, employers cannot refuse to hire someone solely to avoid accommodating their religious practices unless it would cause an undue hardship.
The agreement reached not only compensates the woman but also requires Buffalo Wild Wings to undertake training for managers and HR personnel at the Douglasville location. They must also post notices in the workplace about the settlement and the rights employees have against discrimination.
As part of the terms, the restaurant will regularly update the EEOC on any requests for religious accommodations and any complaints related to religious discrimination or retaliation. The EEOC expressed satisfaction with the steps Buffalo Wild Wings is taking to prevent similar violations in the future.
