Union Votes to Replace Labor Day With Muslim Holiday at Tennessee Plant

[BDBopper]

If I owned a business like this I would make the schedule around my own religeon's holidays but would allow those who are Muslim, Jewish, or otherwise to have their holidays off (with pay). It's only common courtesy. I wouldn't be a decent boss if I didn't do it. In addition my employees would have their Birthdays off (with pay) and my Birthday would be a day off for everyone!

[wendybeth]

I agree with Alex. My husbands company avoids these problems by doing just what he suggests, and while it's a pain for holidays like Easter, etc, it really is the fairest thing to do.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by BDBopper

If I owned a business like this I would make the schedule around my own religeon's holidays but would allow those who are Muslim, Jewish, or otherwise to have their holidays off (with pay). It's only common courtesy. I wouldn't be a decent boss if I didn't do it. In addition my employees would have their Birthdays off (with pay) and my Birthday would be a day off for everyone!

That's what floating holidays are for. 2 extra paid days off to use as you see fit. If you're Jewish take off the High Holidays. If you're Muslim take off your holidays. If you're an atheist take a day off.

Closing a business is done with a business purpose. If over half the staff would be out on this day, then it does make sense to close the office. Retail stores are open 364/365 days a year. Their services are needed. Baskin Robbins can close twice a year, at the owners discretion. The store I ran was closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas with shortened hours on Easter because it was dead. It's not a matter of being a "decent boss", it's a business reason.

Alex, are you suggesting going from 2 floating holidays to 4, or going from set company holidays to adding 2 floating holidays on top of other PTO?

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by BDBopper

If I owned a business like this I would make the schedule around my own religeon's holidays but would allow those who are Muslim, Jewish, or otherwise to have their holidays off (with pay).

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

That's what floating holidays are for. 2 extra paid days off to use as you see fit. If you're Jewish take off the High Holidays. If you're Muslim take off your holidays. If you're an atheist take a day off.

Two things:

1. As JWBear pointed out, the decision is a common sense decision, not a religious based one: since at least 58% of ALL employees would be off on that one day, it is not practical to expect the business to run efficiently on that day.
2. (And this is a completely different discussion) How does one draw the line on what is a religious holiday? That opens up a whole new argument (however, mostly rhetorical).

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

Two things:

1. As JWBear pointed out, the decision is a common sense decision, not a religious based one: since at least 58% of ALL employees would be off on that one day, it is not practical to expect the business to run efficiently on that day.
2. (And this is a completely different discussion) How does one draw the line on what is a religious holiday? That opens up a whole new argument (however, mostly rhetorical).

I was pointing out to BDB why companies don't give out paid religious holidays for everyone. That's what floating holidays are for.


I wasn't disagreeing with JWBear. It makes sense to close the plant when over half the staff would have been out on that day anyways.