P.F. Chang’s to pay $80,000 after religious discrimination investigation at Birmingham location

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — P.F. Chang’s has agreed to pay $80,000 to a job applicant who was not hired because of a religious accommodation request he made, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced Monday.

The applicant requested Sundays off because of his religious beliefs during the interview process with the P.F. Chang’s location in Birmingham in Aug. 2024. EEOC concluded he ultimately wasn’t hired because of the request.

The alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. As a part of the settlement, P.F. Chang’s must provide back pay, compensatory and punitive damages, and revise written policies about religious accommodations. The restaurant also agreed to require training for its staff with an emphasis on religious accommodations.

“We commend P.F. Chang’s for their commitment to ensuring that their restaurants make reasonable efforts to accommodate employees’ sincerely held religious beliefs,” said Bradley Anderson, director of the EEOC’s Birmingham District Office. “This case should serve as a reminder for employers to train supervisors and representatives to recognize requests for religious accommodations. It is important all employers understand that federal law requires reasonable religious accommodations, unless such an accommodation would pose an undue hardship substantial to the overall context of the business.”