A Texas franchise operator for Chick-fil-A is facing a federal lawsuit after allegedly firing an employee who refused to work during her Sabbath observance, raising new questions about religious freedom in the workplace.

According to a complaint filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Hatch Trick, Inc., which operates several Chick-fil-A locations in the Austin area, violated federal law by failing to accommodate employee Laurel Torode’s religious beliefs before ultimately terminating her employment.

Torode, a member of the United Church of God, reportedly informed company officials during her interview that her faith prohibits her from working from sunset on Friday through sunset on Saturday in observance of the Sabbath. The EEOC said the company initially honored her request while she served as a manager overseeing delivery drivers at one Austin-area restaurant.

That accommodation allegedly changed in early 2024.

According to the lawsuit, company leadership informed Torode in February that she would now be required to work Saturdays, including during the hours she observes the Sabbath. The complaint states that Torode attempted to work with company officials to find a solution that would allow her to continue in her management role without violating her religious convictions.

Instead, the EEOC alleges the company offered her a demotion to a delivery driver position with lower pay, fewer hours and reduced benefits if she wished to avoid Saturday shifts.

When Torode declined the position, the company terminated her employment, according to the lawsuit.

The EEOC argues that the company’s actions violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for sincerely held religious beliefs unless doing so would create an “undue hardship” for the business.

“The duty under federal law to provide reasonable accommodation of religion reflects an acknowledgment by our society of the importance of faith in workers’ everyday lives and an abiding respect for those who observe religious practices as an expression of that faith,” acting EEOC Dallas Regional Attorney Ronald L. Phillips said in a statement.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Austin after attempts to resolve the dispute outside of court were unsuccessful.

The case has attracted significant attention because Chick-fil-A has long promoted itself as a company rooted in Christian values. The restaurant chain famously closes all of its locations on Sundays, a tradition established by founder S. Truett Cathy in 1946 to allow employees time for rest, family and worship.

While Chick-fil-A declined to comment directly on the lawsuit, the company told FOX Business that individual franchise owners are solely responsible for employment decisions at their restaurants.