Muslims working for Amazon in Minn. say they fear being fired from the distribution center after taking breaks to pray

[Sugar Cookie]

Muslims working for Amazon in Minneapolis say they fear being fired from the distribution center after taking breaks to pray.

All workers are required to meet strict packing quotas of 240 boxes an hour but the performance of practicing Muslims is affected because they are required to pray five times a day.

Amazon has refuted the claims saying the workers were given a paid prayer break of less than 20 minutes but would be allowed to take unpaid prayer breaks for longer.

In a statement, the company say that productivity expectations would be adjusted if employees wanted to take the unpaid breaks.

'We work hard every day to ensure all of our employees are treated fairly and with dignity and respect'.

On Friday a group of Amazon workers, mainly Somali refugees living in Minnesota, protested outside the Shakopee center warehouse to demand better working conditions.

Waving placards they said employees are having their 'bodies wear out because of the stress from increased productivity demands'.

Khadra Ibhrahin, 28, told Vox she could not easily take prayer breaks because she is required to pack 240 boxes an hour. That number can jump to 400 depending on the demand.

Staff are apparently penalized if they fall behind the packing rate. She said that taking breaks slows down the required rate which puts them at risk of getting fired.

'So most of the time we choose prayer over bathroom, and have learned to balance our bodily needs.

'Every time I walk through those doors, I am filled with this dread that tonight is going to be the night that I get fired.'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...inst-internet-giant-claim-dont-time-pray.html

 

[Dead Stephanie]

So, they choose prayer over bathroom? Can’t they pray while they shit? WTF?

 

[Sejanus]

Zero fuks!

 

[Muriel Schwenck]

So work a longer shift at regular pay to accommodate all the voluntary prayer time = unpaid breaks.

So, they choose prayer over bathroom? Can’t they pray while they shit? WTF?

You're so culturally insensitive! The toilets don't face Mecca.

 

[Brillig]

You're so culturally insensitive! The toilets don't face Mecca.

I'm going to hell AND losing my Liberal card for laughing at that one.

 

[cubby]

I know that the stocking rate at Wal-Mart is one box per minute while dealing with customers, so basically I'm saying that Amazon is not the only company that puts, what I see as, unreasonable pressures on employees.

You can't make production if you have to leave you job every hour and a half to pray. You either rise to the challenge or quit or get fired and find a job that will allow you to do whatever you need to do other than your job. I don't have any sympathy for them. Adapt or die.

 

[Satanica]

You took the job. You must've known the requirements, so GTFO. It always bugs me when people wait until later to pitch a fit about workplace rules. Now, if some "new" rules are suddenly introduced that appear to be aimed at certain groups of employees, then that's a different story and is obviously discrimination. That doesn't appear to be what happened here.

 

[Sugar Cookie]

@Satanica

Since they are opening in Amazon centers in Virginia and New York I wonder if they will close the Minn. location so they don;t have to deal with the religious demands of CAIR.

 

[Satanica]

I thought I saw mention of unionizing efforts in New York, so I wonder how Amazon will handle that threat.

 

[Craygor]

'So most of the time we choose prayer over bathroom, and have learned to balance our bodily needs.

A might be spit balling here, but how about not choosing a religion that requires you to supplicate to an imaginary sky daddy 5 fucking times a day?