PAP MP Zainal Sapari posted on his Facebook asking for employers to give Muslim men time off from 12.30pm to 2.30pm on Fridays to do their obligatory congregational prayers.
Feeling thankful, he said he was approached by fellow non-Muslim colleagues whom sought advice from him about Friday's prayers protocol for Muslim men. Their concern is what happens if the prayer clashses with a planned event or meeting on a Friday.
The MP then asks what should be the company's policy or guidelines when it comes to Fridays' prayers.
According to the MP, "It would be much appreciated by your MM staff if they are allowed to proceed to the nearby mosque from 12.30 pm onwards as the mosques would usually be near full-house about 10 to 15 mins before the offical prayer call or Zohor (actual time varies slightly overtime between 12.50 pm to 1.20 pm)."
He explained that, "Once the Zohor time starts, the sermons delivered by the Imam, followed by the congregational prayers, will take about 45 to 50 mins. Hence, it would be reasonable to expect your MM staff to report back for work between 2.15 pm to 2.30 pm."
"In short, as a rule of thumb, allow your MM staff some time off between 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm would make you a muslim-friendly employer and you will definitely keep their morale at work high. Your MM staff would make up for the loss in company's time by reporting to work earlier or leaving later in the day."
He was confident and assured that Muslim staff would abuse this concession because "we know, trust lost is hard to regain back".
In his full Facebook post he wrote,
#FridayPrayers #MuslimFriendlyEmployer #TagYourBoss#1230hrsto1430hrs
I have been approached by fellow non-muslim colleagues seeking advice about Friday's prayers to help them in their planning for event or meeting on a Friday. I have also been approached by male muslim (MM) workers who had difficulty in getting their company to allow them to go for Friday prayers and they have do it discretely.
If you have male muslim staff, what should be the company's policy or guidelines when it comes to Fridays' prayers?
The congregational Friday prayers are obligatory to all male muslims (unless unable to do so due to sickness, bad/heavy weather, long travel, or caring for someone) and usually performed in the mosque.
It would be much appreciated by your MM staff if they are allowed to proceed to the nearby mosque from 12.30 pm onwards as the mosques would usually be near full-house about 10 to 15 mins before the offical prayer call or Zohor (actual time varies slightly overtime between 12.50 pm to 1.20 pm).
Once the Zohor time starts, the sermons delivered by the Imam, followed by the congregational prayers, will take about 45 to 50 mins. Hence, it would be reasonable to expect your MM staff to report back for work between 2.15 pm to 2.30 pm.
In short, as a rule of thumb, allow your MM staff some time off between 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm would make you a muslim-friendly employer and you will definitely keep their morale at work high. Your MM staff would make up for the loss in company's time by reporting to work earlier or leaving later in the day.
I doubt any of your MM staff would abuse this concession because we know, trust lost is hard to regain back.
BTW, a non-muslim employer asked whether his male muslim staff can pray by himself for Friday prayers - answer is NO. In fact, for a MM to miss the Friday congregational prayers for 3 times consecutively is a serious and grave sin.
What do you think of this gently persuasive request by the MP?
As an employer, what would you do? What is/will be your company's policy or guidelines when it comes to Fridays' prayers?
