TMC News yesterday reported that a a Minnesota federal magistrate judge has given final approval to consent decrees settling two related cases involving failure to accommodate religous needs of Muslim workers employed by, or seeking employment with, a chicken producer with plants in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The settlement in EEOC v. Gold'n Plump Poultry, Inc., requires the company to add a paid break during the second half of each shift to accommodate Muslim employees who wish to pray in the course of the work day. The timing of the break will fluctuate during the year to coordinate with the required time for Muslim prayer, but all workers, regardless of religion, will be entitled to the break. Gold'n Plump will also pay damages totalling $215,000 to 128 Somali American Muslims who complained that they were disciplined or discharged for practicing their religion.
In the second case (EEOC v. The Work Connection) brought against an employment agency that recruited workers for Gold'n Plump, the consent decree requires an end to the practice of requiring applicants to sign a form stating that they will not refuse to handle pork products in the course of their work. Some 28 applicants previously turned away for refusing to sign the form will now be offered positions at Gold'n Plump, and they will share in a damage award totalling $150,000.
