BRILLION, WISCONSIN — Dozens of employees at a Wisconsin factory could soon be out of a job after the company introduced a new prayer policy last Thursday.

Brillion-based lawnmower and snowblower manufacturer Ariens is threatening to fire Muslim workers if they take two daily five-minute breaks to pray. The employees must pray during designated breaks instead — meaning they can only worship at meal times.

But, Muslim scripture requires five daily prayers — all at specific, set times — not the whim of an employer. So this new policy is pretty much at odds with how Islam is practiced. One employee told WBAY-TV that he was handed an unemployment slip when he was seen praying at his usual prayer time.

The change affects 53 employees, only 10 of whom have said they would stay with the company under the new policy.

Ariens defended the move and told WBAY the "manufacturing environment does not allow for unscheduled breaks in production." So it's not personal, it's business.

Never mind that a December post on the company's website shows that employees were encouraged to take time out to celebrate Jesus' birthday this past December.

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