BRILLION, WI (WTAQ) – A group representing Somali-Muslim workers has filed a federal lawsuit against a Brillion company in regards to its break policy.
Last year, Ariens began permitting two scheduled 10-minute breaks, saying unscheduled breaks were impacting the company’s work flow.
Prior to that policy change, the lawsuit says the Muslim employees were allowed to take short breaks to pray, while non-Muslim employees could do the same to smoke, make a phone call, or get food.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations says the new, short breaks did not allow the Muslim employees to pray the necessary amount of times each day.
CAIR claims the plaintiffs were either coerced to resign or terminated.
The workers are asking for their jobs back, with short prayer breaks and payments for lost wages and benefits.
