A major U.S. tire and auto service chain, Mavis Tire Supply LLC, has agreed to pay $303,758 in a settlement with the federal government after refusing to hire a Jewish applicant who requested time off to observe the Sabbath.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced the conciliation agreement on December 15, 2025, resolving a religious discrimination charge.
The case began when the applicant, who is Jewish, applied for a managerial position at a Mavis location in central New York. During the interview process, he requested accommodations to avoid working on Friday evenings and Saturdays, key times for Sabbath observance in Judaism.
Instead of advancing him for the management role, the company offered him a lower-paying position as a tire technician, claiming it offered more schedule flexibility. When he reiterated that he could not work during those times due to his religious beliefs, Mavis withdrew the job offer entirely.
The EEOC's investigation found reasonable cause to believe this violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits religious discrimination in employment and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for sincerely held religious practices unless it causes undue hardship.As part of the settlement, Mavis will provide the applicant with back pay, front pay, and compensatory damages totaling $303,758.
The company also committed to:
- Revising its written policies on religious accommodations.
- Providing training for retail managers in central New York and human resources staff nationwide involved in hiring and accommodation requests.
- Posting notices about the resolution and EEOC-enforced laws.
- Reporting any future internal complaints of religious discrimination or retaliation to the EEOC.
Arlean Nieto, acting director of the EEOC's New York District Office, stated: "Employers cannot refuse to hire a job applicant to avoid granting a request for a religious accommodation. Employers need to take reasonable efforts to accommodate an employee’s sincerely held religious belief, unless such an accommodation would pose an undue hardship."
Mavis Tire, based in White Plains, New York, operates nationwide and has not publicly commented on the settlement beyond the agreement.
