Buffalo Wild Wings to Pay Over $47K After Not Hiring Woman Because of the Way She Dressed

BWW Resources, LLC, the parent company of Buffalo Wild Wings, has agreed to pay $47,500 to settle a lawsuit after a woman claimed one of its Georgia restaurants refused to hire her because of her religious clothing requirements.

The woman — who was not identified — filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), alleging she applied for a server position at the chain’s Douglasville, Georgia, location, according to an Aug. 26 press release.

Her daughter, who worked at the restaurant, had introduced her to the general manager at a company event. According to reporting from The Miami Herald and WSB-TV, both of which reviewed the complaint, the woman expressed interest in the role and noted her experience as a server. PEOPLE has not independently reviewed the filing.

The woman, a Pentecostal Christian and member of the Free Holiness Church, said her religious practice required her to wear ankle-length or below-the-knee skirts. According to the EEOC, the general manager acknowledged an open position but also “mocked” her religious beliefs.

The woman alleged that after she formally applied, she was never contacted or interviewed. When her daughter followed up, the assistant manager allegedly said they would not hire her because it was unusual for servers in a sports bar to wear long skirts. The manager reportedly asked, “What sports bar have you seen that had servers wearing skirts?

According to the lawsuit, five new servers were hired within two months of her application, leading her to believe her religious dress code was the reason she was overlooked.

The EEOC determined the restaurant’s actions violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia after attempting a conciliation process.

“Title VII prohibits employers from refusing to hire a job candidate to avoid accommodating a religious practice, absent undue hardship,” Marcus G. Keegan, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Atlanta District Office, said in a statement.

The company agreed to compensate the applicant, provide specialized training for managers, supervisors, and HR personnel at the Douglasville location, and post a notice outlining employee rights and details of the settlement.

Additionally, BWW Resources must submit regular reports to the EEOC regarding requests for religious accommodations and any employee complaints related to religious discrimination or retaliation.