BWW Resources, the parent company of Buffalo Wild Wings, has agreed to pay $47,500 to settle a lawsuit claiming a Georgia location rejected a job applicant because of her religious clothing.
According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the woman, who follows Pentecostal Christian beliefs and is a member of the Free Holiness church, was denied a server position at the Douglasville restaurant because she wears long skirts as part of her faith.
The woman’s daughter, an employee at the restaurant, had introduced her to the general manager at a work event. The manager acknowledged there was an open role but allegedly mocked her religious beliefs and refused to move forward with her application.
Despite applying, the woman was never contacted for an interview. When her daughter followed up, an assistant manager allegedly said, “What sports bar have you seen that had servers wearing skirts?”
The EEOC found the restaurant’s actions violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The company agreed to settle and provide training to staff, display anti-discrimination notices, and report religious accommodation requests to the EEOC.
Marcus G. Keegan, regional attorney for the EEOC, stated, “Title VII prohibits employers from refusing to hire a job candidate to avoid accommodating a religious practice, absent undue hardship.”
Buffalo Wild Wings has not publicly commented on the case.
