In a misguided effort to squeeze a few more dollars of savings from their Muslim eployees Hertz in Seattle changed what used to be short paid breaks for prayers to requiring its Muslim employees to clock out breifly. Of its 34 shuttle drivers who were previously suspended for praying 8 complied and Hertz fired the other 26. This story is so new I couldn't even find it in Google News.
Hertz fires 26 Muslim employees over prayer breaks
By Denise Whitaker Published: Oct 20, 2011 at 6:03 PM PDT
SEATTLE -- Car rental firm Hertz fired 26 employees at its Sea-Tac Airport location for failing to clock out when they take their prayer breaks.
The employees say Hertz is trampling on their right to religious freedom, but the company says it's merely trying to promote fairness in the workplace.
"We feel like we're being punished for what we believe in," said former Hertz employee Ileys Omar.
Omar is a Muslim who prays five times a day. In the past, Muslim employees at Hertz paused for their prayers without clocking out.
"It's five minutes. It's not as big deal as the company's making it," Omar said.
I get the impression that this is only going on here in Hertz's Seattle Sea-Tac airport operation.