Former In-N-Out Employee Claims Religious Bias in Lawsuit

A former In-N-Out employee has filed a lawsuit accusing the fast-food chain of religious discrimination, retaliation and creating a hostile work environment after a dispute over her ability to attend church on Sundays.

Arianna Rodriguez, who worked as a cook at an In-N-Out location on East Carson Street in Long Beach, California, filed the civil complaint in Los Angeles County Superior Court. According to the lawsuit, Rodriguez began working for the company in August 2021 and had previously been allowed to have Sundays off so she could attend church services.

The allegations have not been proven in court. PEOPLE reported that representatives for both Rodriguez and In-N-Out had been contacted for comment.

Sunday Schedule Became a Workplace Dispute

Rodriguez alleges that her working relationship with the company changed after a new manager took over the restaurant in October 2025.

According to the complaint, Rodriguez is a practicing Christian who attends church on Sundays. She says her request to have Sundays off had previously been accommodated but later became a recurring source of conflict under the new management.

The lawsuit claims Rodriguez received a workplace write-up after the new manager became aware of her religious affiliation. She also alleges that she raised concerns with upper management about her schedule, church attendance and what she considered unfair treatment.

Suspension and Termination

The dispute escalated in June when Rodriguez was suspended following an incident involving food that she believed was waste, according to the lawsuit.

Rodriguez claims she handled the food based on practices she had observed at the restaurant. The company reportedly investigated the incident, and Rodriguez was subsequently terminated on July 3.

The former employee alleges that other workers involved in comparable incidents received less severe discipline. She argues that her suspension and termination were connected to her earlier complaints and religious-accommodation dispute.

In addition to religious discrimination, Rodriguez’s lawsuit alleges retaliation, wrongful termination and violations involving wages and employment records. She is seeking damages that would be determined through the legal process.

In-N-Out’s Christian Identity

The lawsuit has attracted additional attention because of In-N-Out’s long-standing association with Christian references.

The company’s packaging has included Bible verse references for decades. PEOPLE also noted that In-N-Out CEO Lynsi Snyder has spoken publicly about her Christian faith and the religious influence within her family-owned company.

That background makes Rodriguez’s allegations particularly notable, although the company’s religious branding does not by itself establish whether the employment claims in the lawsuit are valid.

What Happens Next?

The case will now proceed through the legal system, where the allegations can be challenged and evidence presented by both sides.

At this stage, Rodriguez’s claims remain allegations contained in a civil complaint. A court has not determined that In-N-Out discriminated against her or violated employment laws.

The dispute ultimately could hinge on the circumstances surrounding Rodriguez’s Sunday scheduling, her communications with management, the food-related incident that led to her suspension and the company’s stated reasons for terminating her.

Source: people