Meat factory workers criticized for praying while on the clock

In Fort Morgan, Colorado, a significant number of Somali workers are employed at a large meat processing facility. In 2015, a request was made for eleven employees to leave the production line simultaneously to pray during work hours. The company proposed a compromise, allowing groups of two to three to take breaks so operations could continue. Dissatisfied with this arrangement, approximately 200 workers participated in a three-day walkout, resulting in their termination. Subsequently, 138 of them were awarded $11,500 each in a discrimination lawsuit. This situation raises questions about workplace policies regarding unauthorized breaks and their broader implications.