Long Beach, California — A Christian woman who worked for nearly five years at an In-N-Out restaurant in California is suing the fast-food chain, alleging that a change in management turned her longstanding Sunday church schedule into a workplace dispute that ultimately contributed to her termination.
Arianna Rodriguez, a former cook at the Long Beach location, claims in a lawsuit that she was subjected to religious discrimination, treated unfairly and eventually fired after raising concerns about her ability to attend church on Sundays.
New Manager Allegedly Changed Longstanding Schedule
According to the lawsuit, Rodriguez had worked for the restaurant for years under a schedule that allowed her to attend church services on Sundays.
That arrangement allegedly continued without significant problems until a new manager arrived in October.
Rodriguez claims that after the management change, her Sunday availability became what she described as a “recurring source of workplace conflict.”
The lawsuit also alleges that she received her first-ever disciplinary write-up during this period.
For Rodriguez, the scheduling dispute was not simply about a preferred day off. She says her inability to work Sundays was connected to her Christian religious observance and attendance at church.
Worker Takes Concerns to Management
By December, Rodriguez says she decided to raise her concerns with higher-level management.
According to the lawsuit, she complained about her work schedule, church attendance and what she believed was unfair treatment at the restaurant.
She alleges that her concerns did not result in a resolution.
The lawsuit claims the dispute continued into the following year, eventually leading to a separate incident that Rodriguez says became the basis for her termination.
Food Incident Leads to Suspension
The major confrontation allegedly occurred on June 24, when an incident involving food resulted in Rodriguez coming under scrutiny.
The lawsuit does not provide a clear explanation of exactly what happened with the food.
Rodriguez claims she believed her actions were consistent with practices she had previously observed at the restaurant and that the conduct amounted to food waste.
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Instead, she alleges, In-N-Out referred the matter to its human resources department, suspended her and opened an investigation.
Rodriguez maintains that other employees had engaged in similar conduct but were allegedly treated less severely.
Former Worker Claims Unequal Treatment
According to the lawsuit, Rodriguez returned to HR during the investigation to complain about what she considered unequal treatment.
She alleges that while other employees involved in similar conduct were only warned, she was suspended and ultimately faced termination.
The company eventually fired Rodriguez on July 3, citing an alleged violation of company policy, according to the lawsuit.
Rodriguez disputes the circumstances surrounding her dismissal and argues that the food-related incident was handled differently because of the broader conflict surrounding her workplace treatment.
The lawsuit does not establish that the alleged religious discrimination claims are true, and the allegations remain subject to the legal process.
Lawsuit Seeks Damages and Reinstatement
Rodriguez is now seeking legal relief from the burger chain, bringing claims that include religious discrimination and wrongful termination, along with other allegations.
She is seeking unspecified damages, unpaid wages and reinstatement to her former position.
The case could ultimately examine whether Rodriguez’s religious practices were reasonably accommodated and whether the reasons given for her termination were legitimate or connected to her earlier complaints.
For now, the dispute remains a civil allegation, and the claims have not been proven in court.
What do you think about this workplace dispute? Should employers make stronger accommodations for employees who need Sundays off for religious observance? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
