Newsroom
Welcome to the EEOC's Virtual Newsroom, which offers a wide range of information and materials on the Commission's history, functions, procedures, programs, actions and staff, on the statutes we enforce, and on related research, data and statistics. We encourage everyone to browse and search through our continually updated Press Kit, which provides extensive background and context for virtually any question.
To contact The Office of Communications, please phone 202-921-3191 or send an e-mail to [email protected]. Please note, this e-mailbox is intended for reporters, news producers, those writing for news publication and broadcasts, and other people working on news programs or stories.
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Press release
EEOC Sues Buffalo Wild Wings for Religious Discrimination
ATLANTA – BWW Resources, LLC, which owns and operates Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants, violated federal law when it failed to hire a job candidate because of her religion, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed today.
According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, a server candidate for the Douglasville, Georgia location wore long skirts in public because of her sincerely held religious beliefs. Before she applied, the Douglasville general manager told the
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Charlotte IHOP to Pay $40,000 in EEOC Religious Discrimination and Retaliation Suit
CHARLOTTE, N.C. –Suncakes NC, LLC, a North Carolina-based company, and Suncakes, LLC, a Texas-based company doing business as IHOP (collectively “Suncakes”), will pay $40,000 and provide other relief to settle a religious discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, Suncakes hired a cook at its Woodlawn Road location in Charlotte in January 2021. At the time of hire, the
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Hank’s Furniture to Pay $110,000 in EEOC Religious Discrimination Lawsuit
MOBILE, Ala. – Hank’s Furniture, Inc. (HFI), a nationwide furniture retailer, will pay $110,000 and furnish other relief to settle a religious discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
According to the lawsuit, a former assistant manager at HFI’s Pensacola, Florida, location notified the company that her religious beliefs prevented her from receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Rather than discuss the employee’s religious beliefs to determine the
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Houchens Food Group to Pay $40,000 in EEOC Religious Discrimination Lawsuit
INDIANAPOLIS – Houchens Food Group, a large owner and operator of retail grocery, convenience and hardware stores and quick service restaurants headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky, will pay $40,000 and furnish other relief to settle a religious discrimination lawsuit.
According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, Houchens subjected Matthew Barnett, a Spiritualist Rastafarian, to discrimination when it refused to hire him for a position at its Hometown IGA store in Williamsburg, Kentucky because he needed a religious
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Wheeler Trucking to Pay $65,000 to Resolve EEOC Discrimination and Retaliation Lawsuit
CLEVELAND – Nationwide automotive hauling and logistics company Wheeler Trucking, doing business as Wheeler Trucking Inc. and Wheeler Logistics, Inc. will pay $65,000 and furnish equitable relief to settle a race and religion lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.
According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, Wheeler subjected Charles R. Lynch, III, a Torah Observant employee at its Sheffield, Ohio, location to discrimination when they revoked his religious accommodation that
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Passages Family Support to Pay $95,000 to Resolve Religious Discrimination Charge
SEATTLE – Passages Family Support, a non-profit organization with a clinic in Spokane, Washington, has agreed to pay $95,000 and provide other injunctive relief following an investigation by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.
A former employee who worked as a mental health therapist alleged that she requested a job-related accommodation for a religious belief that conflicted with a stated requirement of her position. The EEOC’s investigation found that, despite
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Blackwell Security Services Will Pay $70,000 to Settle EEOC Religious Discrimination Lawsuit
CHICAGO – Blackwell Security Services, Inc. will pay $70,000 and provide other relief to settle a religious discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
The EEOC charged in its suit that Blackwell refused to accommodate an employee’s religious practice, needlessly forcing him to choose between his religion and his livelihood. According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, the employee, who worked as a concierge in Chicago, Illinois, is
Press release
Amrith Kaur Aakre Chosen as New Director of EEOC’s Chicago District
WASHINGTON - Amrith Kaur Aakre will serve as the new director of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) Chicago District, the federal
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Trinity Health-Michigan to Pay $50,000 to Settle EEOC Religious Discrimination Lawsuit
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Trinity Health Grand Rapids, formerly known as Mercy Health St. Mary’s, a hospital and member of the Trinity Health-Michigan health system, agreed to pay $50,000 and provide other relief to settle a religious discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, Trinity Health violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by rescinding a job offer
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Triple Canopy, Inc. to Pay $110,759 to Settle EEOC Religious Discrimination and Retaliation Lawsuit
WASHINGTON – Triple Canopy, Inc. a Reston, Virginia-based company providing protective services to federal agencies, will pay a former employee $110,759 and provide other relief to settle a religious discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.
According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, Triple Canopy denied a religious accommodation to an employee who held a Christian belief that men must wear beards because the employee was unable
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Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to Pay $45,000 to Settle EEOC Religious Discrimination Lawsuit
ATLANTA – Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. (CHOA), a pediatric healthcare system in Georgia, will pay $45,000 to settle a religious discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
The EEOC charged in its suit that a maintenance employee requested a religious exemption to CHOA’s flu vaccination requirements based on sincerely held religious beliefs, in accordance with CHOA’s procedures. CHOA granted the same employee a religious exemption
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EEOC Sues Wheeler Trucking for Race and Religious Discrimination, Retaliation
CLEVELAND – Wheeler Trucking violated federal civil rights laws when the company subjected an employee at its Lorain County, Ohio location to harassment because of race and religion, denied him a religious accommodation, retaliated against him for complaining and separated him from employment, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit it announced today.
According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, Wheeler Trucking subjected the former employee to frequent, severe harassment because of race
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Landry’s Restaurant Chain Subsidiary Pays $25,000 to Resolve Religious Discrimination Suit
ATLANTA – Del Frisco’s Grille of Atlanta, LLC—which was part of a national restaurant group operated by Landry’s LLC but ceased operations last month—will pay a former employee $25,000 and provide other relief to settle a religious discrimination lawsuit filed the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
The EEOC alleged in its suit that Del Frisco’s violated federal law by failing to accommodate an employee’s religious practices and then
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UFP Ranson, LLC to Pay $215,000 to Settle EEOC Race and Religious Harassment Suit
Martinsburg, W.V. – UFP Ranson, LLC, a subsidiary of UFP Industries, Inc. that manufactures lumber and building materials in Ranson, West Virginia, will pay $215,000 to settle a race and religious harassment lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, beginning shortly after his transfer to the lumber-treating department in July 2019 and continuing until his discharge in June 2020, UFP Ranson employees
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EEOC Sues Chipotle for Religious Discrimination and Retaliation
ST. LOUIS – National restaurant chain Chipotle violated federal law when a manager at the company’s Lenexa, Kansas location harassed a teen worker for wearing a hijab and when the company retaliated against her after she complained, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed yesterday. The agency further alleged the teen was forced to resign because of the discriminatory treatment.
According to the suit, the teen was employed as a
Press release
EEOC Sues Blackwell Security Services for Religious Discrimination
CHICAGO – Blackwell Security Services, Inc., a hotel and condominium staffing company, violated federal law when it refused to accommodate an employee’s religious practice, forcing him to choose between his religion and his livelihood, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit announced today.
According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, the employee, who worked as a concierge in Chicago, Illinois, is a practicing Muslim who wears a beard as required by his religious
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EEOC Releases Strategic Enforcement Plan
WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released its Strategic Enforcement Plan (SEP) for Fiscal Years 2024 –2028. The SEP establishes the EEOC’s subject matter priorities to achieve its mission of preventing and remedying unlawful employment discrimination and to advance its vision of fair and inclusive workplaces with equal opportunity for all.
By updating and refining the prior SEP and incorporating public feedback on the agency’s strategic priorities, the EEOC is
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United Healthcare Services Sued by EEOC for Religious Discrimination
CLEVELAND – United Healthcare Services, Inc. (United) violated federal law when it discriminated against a full-time telecommuter by refusing to grant her a religious exemption from the company’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit it announced today.
According to EEOC’s lawsuit, a supervisor of clinical administration had performed her job entirely from home since 2018 and had no job duties that required her to meet face-to-face or
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EEOC Sues Hank’s Furniture for Religious Discrimination
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Arkansas-based Hank’s Furniture, Inc., a retail seller of home furniture with stores in four states, violated federal law by refusing to accommodate the sincerely held religious beliefs of an assistant store manager in Pensacola, Florida and then firing her, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed today.
According to the EEOC’s suit, in 2021, Hank’s Furniture implemented a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy. When the Pensacola assistant store
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Aurora Renovations and Developments, LLC Will Pay $50,000 to Settle Religious Discrimination and Retaliation Suit
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Aurora Renovations and Developments, LLC, doing business as Aurora Pro Services, a North Carolina-based residential home service and repair company, has agreed to pay $50,000 and provide other relief to settle a religious harassment, discrimination, and retaliation lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.
According to the EEOC, since at least June 2020, Aurora Pro Services required all employees to attend daily employer-led Christian prayer
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U.S. EEOC Hosts Three-Part Training Series for New Supervisors & Managers
LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency tasked with enforcing laws against employment discrimination and harassment, announced it is hosting a three-part virtual training series designed specifically for new supervisors and managers.
The first training session will be held July 11, which will highlight “What You Should Know as First-Time Supervisors and Managers: Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Basics – From Theory to Application.” This training will introduce new supervisors
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Inspira Medical Centers to Pay $100,000 to Conciliate EEOC Discrimination Finding
PHILADELPHIA -- Inspira Medical Centers, Inc., a New Jersey corporation, also known as Inspira Health Network, which owns and operates several hospitals and numerous health centers in New Jersey, has entered into conciliation agreements with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to resolve six religious discrimination charges, the federal agency announced today.
According to the EEOC, all six charges were the result of Inspira denying employees a religious exemption to its mandatory influenza vaccination
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EEOC Sues Triple Canopy, Inc. for Religious Discrimination and Retaliation
WASHINGTON– Triple Canopy, Inc. (Triple Canopy) a Reston, Virginia-based company that provides protective services to federal agencies, violated federal law by refusing to allow a male employee to have a beard as a religious accommodation, and not scheduling him for work after he complained to the EEOC, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleged in a suit filed today.
According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, despite the employee’s repeated explanations that he did not belong
Press release
EEOC Sues Charlotte IHOP for Religious Discrimination and Retaliation
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Suncakes, LLC, a Texas-based company doing business as IHOP, violated federal law when it required an employee to work on Sundays despite a previously granted religious accommodation, and then fired him when he attempted to exercise his federally protected rights, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed today.
According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, Suncakes hired a cook at its Woodlawn Road location in Charlotte in January 2021