Heroes & Villains
One hero and one villain, every Friday. Named people or institutions, each with a source. Never invented.
1 hero named · 1 villain named
Heroes
Tyler Steele
Converted to Judaism in spring 2023, asked his Apple manager in Virginia for Shabbat off that September, was told no, complained about religious discrimination in November, and was fired in January 2024. He took it to the EEOC, which sued Apple last September. Apple settled Aug. 7: $150,000 ($80,000 back pay, $70,000 damages), plus a rewrite of its religious-accommodation policy and mandatory training in its Virginia operations within 90 days. One guy, one Shabbat, a new policy for everyone after him.
Villains
Apple
Same story. The company denied Shabbat accommodation, fired the man who asked for it, settled the federal lawsuit, and, per the agreement, "denied wrongdoing." Debra Lawrence, the EEOC's Philadelphia regional attorney, put it plainly: employees "should not have to violate their religious beliefs to keep their jobs." A trillion-dollar company needed a court to explain that.