Royal Mail Bullying Boss

[Postie45]

Time out for prayers?? That's it, I'm converting to the prophet... :Very Happy

Well that's nice for them. In December therefore, with barely 8 hours between sunrise and dusk, they'll be doing more praying than working. Right during Christmas pressure. I say that tongue-in-cheek, obviously the prayers would be combined.

Without talking about one specific religion over another, in theory what IF there was a religion which had to pray all day, would the business have to accommodate that ? if not why the discrimination ?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Time out for prayers?? That's it, I'm converting to the prophet...

As far as I know islam is the only faith that stipulates what times of the day you should pray, however, any religious observance that has a strict timetable should allow believers to also take breaks at the times they should pray. In fact digging a little deeper, one of the reason why muslims are allowed to pray at work is because of a ruling in Williams-Drabble v Pathway Care Solutions (ET Case no. 2601718/04) in a which a Christian woman claimed discrimination because her work required her start working on Sunday's when before there was no such requirement.

Obligatory prayer is prescribed at five periods of the day. These are measured according to the movement of the sun; (i) dawn (fajr) (ii) noon (zuhr) (iii) mid afternoon (Asr) (iv) j sunset(magrib) (v) nightfall (Isha). Under certain circumstances prayers can be combined, for instance sometimes the nature of daily activities preclude prayers zuhr and Asr[10] can be combined , as can magrib and Isha. Therefore each prayer is prescribed a specific time( timetables are available online for each region)- - See more at: http://www.no5.com/news-and-publication ... bxZoy.dpuf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

However as far as I know those prayers should where possible be taken during agreed work breaks, if the business fail to allow Muslims to pray during their breaks then they may be liable under Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003. Muslims are not getting extra breaks, or they shouldn't be, its just they may take their breaks at different times to others, as long as its agreed.

Well that's nice for them. In December therefore, with barely 8 hours between sunrise and dusk, they'll be doing more praying than working. Right during Christmas pressure. I say that tongue-in-cheek, obviously the prayers would be combined.

Of course you jokingly ignored the fact that any breaks for prayers are taken during their meal relief or they surrender a requisite amount at agreed times. What makes it really funny is the section you quoted states they shouldn't be getting any extra but you added comic value by ignoring it.

[Mr_Pink]

Without talking about one specific religion over another, in theory what IF there was a religion which had to pray all day, would the business have to accommodate that ? if not why the discrimination ?

Don't some monks & nuns spend most of their time praying, although I think that constitutes their 'job'

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Without talking about one specific religion over another, in theory what IF there was a religion which had to pray all day, would the business have to accommodate that ? if not why the discrimination ?

No because there is no way to come to a reasonable accommodation between the employer and employee as required by the act.

3. (1) For the purposes of these Regulations, a person (“A”) discriminates against another person (“B”) if—
(a)on grounds of religion or belief, A treats B less favourably than he treats or would treat other persons; or

it is proportionate to apply that requirement in the particular case;

So on the grounds that they would be treated more favourably (1st quote) and that it isn't proportionate to use the whole working day praying (quote 2).

Hope that answer your hypothetical question.

[Cyclopz]

The truth about prayer times at HWDC is this:

Prayer times are taken at 1 O'clock in the afternoon on early shift.
Management say that any time taken off the floor for first washing and then praying which amounts to about thirty minutes should be paid back to the business.
The time is never paid back and the management never enforce it.
It creates a bad atmosphere amongst the rest of the workforce.
I know this because I see it everyday.

There is more to this story than meets the eye.
This issue of prayer time and the lack of any enforcement of time paid back needs very much to be addressed in the issue of fairness to other employees.
It is becoming a burning issue.

[rusty nails]

The truth about prayer times at HWDC is this:

Prayer times are taken at 1 O'clock in the afternoon on early shift.
Management say that any time taken off the floor for first washing and then praying which amounts to about thirty minutes should be paid back to the business.
The time is never paid back and the management never enforce it.
It creates a bad atmosphere amongst the rest of the workforce.
I know this because I see it everyday.

There is more to this story than meets the eye.
This issue of prayer time and the lack of any enforcement of time paid back needs very much to be addressed in the issue of fairness to other employees.
It is becoming a burning issue.

This may be off topic slightly, but what about smokers? In our office they spend more time outside smoking than they do working so why don't I get a few extra little breaks?
Might need to take up smoking.

[Cyclopz]

This may be off topic slightly, but what about smokers? In our office they spend more time outside smoking than they do working so why don't I get a few extra little breaks?
Might need to take up smoking.

Aye to be fair smokers go out for about a five minute break every two hours.
This amounts to about ten minutes lost time in a day.
Management state that any smoke breaks need to be paid back in time but that is never enforced either.

The logic goes like this.
A guy gets asked to pay back the time for smoking and replies "what about prayer breaks, I hope you are going to enforce their time"
Case dropped.
Another guy goes to pray and is asked to pay back the time and replies "well what about the smokers, I hope you are going to ask them to pay back the time"
Case dropped.

Now if you don't smoke or pray you really are stitched up.

[Lounge Lizard]

From the Mirror

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ro ... ng-4973614" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Its about time more of the management are made to answer.

Are the names in that article made up? Andrew Gumbiti-Zimuto. Bing Wang.

I must admit I didn't see an English name there in the article. A truly multiculti office it would seem, and possibly some friction between the various factions there.

And surely that's how it should be, a truly multicultural office at Heathrow WORLDWIDE Distribution Centre.

[Lounge Lizard]

This may be off topic slightly, but what about smokers? In our office they spend more time outside smoking than they do working so why don't I get a few extra little breaks?
Might need to take up smoking.

Aye to be fair smokers go out for about a five minute break every two hours.
This amounts to about ten minutes lost time in a day.
Management state that any smoke breaks need to be paid back in time but that is never enforced either.

The logic goes like this.
A guy gets asked to pay back the time for smoking and replies "what about prayer breaks, I hope you are going to enforce their time"
Case dropped.
Another guy goes to pray and is asked to pay back the time and replies "well what about the smokers, I hope you are going to ask them to pay back the time"
Case dropped.

Now if you don't smoke or pray you really are stitched up.

I neither smoke nor pray Maybe that's why I'm so depressed.

[Dorset Plodder]

30 Minutes for a Prayer at 1300....Doesn't seem a problem....That about when most people have a Meal Break......and when you've finished, just enough time for a cup of Tea! Know a few people that use their Meal break for a quick nip to the shops.

[Cyclopz]

30 Minutes for a Prayer at 1300....Doesn't seem a problem....That about when most people have a Meal Break......and when you've finished, just enough time for a cup of Tea! Know a few people that use their Meal break for a quick nip to the shops.

Meal break is 10:00 til 10:40 AM.
Every one takes it.
Effectively what happens is all people that pray leave the floor at 12:50 PM and do not return until the next day.
The non praying people are expected to stay at their work stations until 13:20 PM and then wash and go home.

[bustedflush]

Right, that's settled it. I'm becoming a chain-smoking muslim nun. If there is such a thing. If not I'll start it.....

[Cyclopz]

Right, that's settled it. I'm becoming a chain-smoking muslim nun. If there is such a thing. If not I'll start it.....

Start a new religion, that's what I'm thinking.

[Dorset Plodder]

I can see that this sort of thing would cause a lot of animosity but it could be easily managed....perhaps with the glare of publicity some of the "Big Boys" will now have to get involved and sort it.

[Cyclopz]

I can see that this sort of thing would cause a lot of animosity but it could be easily managed....perhaps with the glare of publicity some of the "Big Boys" will now have to get involved and sort it.

You don't know the half of it mate, you really don't and I am not commenting any further.