WA Specialty Meat Firm Agrees to Religious Discrimination Pact

June 17, 2005 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - A Kent, Washington maker of beef jerky has agreed to a $362,000 settlement of a religious discrimination lawsuit based on charges it refused to allow six Somali Muslim women to take an evening prayer break during Ramadan.

Oberto Sausage also agreed to change its policies regarding religious accommodation, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced, according to a Seattle Times report.

The EEOC filed a lawsuit against the company in January, alleging that it discriminated against the workers by firing them when they walked off an assembly line despite being denied the prayer break.

Under the terms of the settlement, Oberto agreed to translate its rules into Somali and conduct anti-discrimination training. It also will give the EEOC an annual update on its progress for five years, according to the Times report.

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