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Should Muslims have to clock out when they pray? That question arose earlier this week when 34 Muslim shuttle bus drivers were suspended indefinitely by Hertz Rent-A-Car for not clocking out when they went to pray.

The suspended drivers, who work for Hertz at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, are all Somali Muslims.

The mass suspension occurred Sept. 30 and has caused heated debate in the Seattle area. Now, the story has been picked up by the national news media.

Earlier this week, a couple of dozen people assembled in front of the Hertz office with signs that read "Hertz hurts my faith" and "Hertz: Respect me, respect my religion."

The company defends its actions.

Under Washington state law, employees are entitled to two paid 10-minute breaks during an eight-hour shift. Religious Muslims pray five times a day, and it takes between three and five minutes to perform the prayers. On a normal day, workers would pray once or twice during a shift.

In a statement sent to The Times, a Hertz spokesperson wrote: "While the employees, all Muslims, were using the breaks for prayers, the breaks were typically extended long beyond the time necessary to complete religious obligations, which is why the company, to be fair to all of its employees in Seattle, implemented the clocking requirement."

Read More 

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/10/34-muslim-shuttle-bus-drivers-suspended-indefinitley-from-hertz.html

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