EEOC, Electrolux Settle Religious Bias Case Sep 25, 2003

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Electrolux AB settled a religious discrimination case in St. Cloud, MN, U.S., and pledged to allow Muslim employees a chance to observe a sunset prayer.

The Somali Community Center of Minneapolis had filed a charge with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of 165 Somali Muslim employees at a St. Cloud freezer factory. The claim alleged that Electrolux discriminated against workers by disciplining them for using unscheduled breaks to pray. According to a joint press release from the EEOC and Electrolux, these unscheduled breaks were generally available to factory line employees to be used on an as-needed basis.

The household appliance company agreed to allow Somali Muslim employees, whose Islamic faith requires at least 5 daily prayers, to observe their sunset prayer. Electrolux will also make policies and procedures available in Somali, provide diversity training for managers and make a monetary donation to the Islamic Center in St. Cloud. (Reuters)

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