IHOP lawsuit claims restaurant refused to honor Christian cook’s requests for church leave

IHOP cook lawsuit overview: 

• Who: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit against Suncakes LLC, doing business as IHOP. 
• Why: The EEOC claims IHOP discriminated against a Christian former cook who they argue was fired due to his request for a religious accommodation to not have to work Sundays.  
• Where: The lawsuit was filed in North Carolina federal court. 
• What are my options: Panera Bread is an alternative to IHOP.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a complaint on behalf of a former IHOP cook who the agency argues was discriminated against and ultimately fired due to his request for religious accommodation. 

The EEOC claims IHOP violated Title VII by allegedly refusing to comply with Eddie L. Moton Jr.’s request not to work Sundays. He made the request due to his Christian-held belief that it is “the Sabbath and a Holy Day” during which he needed to attend church services.

Despite IHOP originally agreeing to abide by his request — and generally doing so — Moton was ultimately both pressured and required to work on several Sundays due to staff shortages or special events, the IHOP lawsuit alleges. 

“Defendant did not consistently allow for the accommodation and at times refused the accommodation altogether,” the IHOP lawsuit states. 

IHOP fired now-former cook for saying he would no longer work on Sundays, lawsuit claims

The EEOC argues that, after working on multiple Sundays despite his request for a religious accommodation, Moton was fired from his position after instructing his manager he would no longer work on Sundays outside of a holiday. 

“Defendant fired Mr. Moton for engaging in the protected conduct of objecting to working on Sundays due to his sincerely held religious belief and for stating his intent to exercise the religious accommodation granted to him when he was hired,” the IHOP lawsuit states. 

The EEOC claims IHOP acted “with malice or with reckless indifference” to Moton’s “federally protected rights,” and deprived its now-former employee of “equal employment opportunities.” 

“As a direct and proximate result of Defendant’s violation of Title VII, Mr. Moton suffered actual damages including but not limited to back pay, losses in compensation and benefits, humiliation, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life,” the IHOP lawsuit states. 

The plaintiff is demanding injunctive relief and requesting an award of compensation and punitive damages. 

IHOP agreed last year to pay $965,000 to resolve class action claims the restaurant underpaid its workers in an alleged violation of both state and federal laws. 

Has your employer discriminated against you? Let us know in the comments. 

The EEOC is represented in-house by Taittiona Miles and Emily J.C. Maloney of the Charlotte District Office.

The IHOP cook lawsuit is Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Suncakes LLC d/b/a IHOP, Case No. 3:23-cv-00274, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.

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