March 21, 2005 2:30 PM PST

Dell: Dispute over Muslim prayers resolved

Dell says it has resolved a dispute with Muslim workers who left their jobs after being prevented from performing traditional Muslim evening prayers. The workers, contractors hired through staffing firm Spherion to work for Dell in Nashville, Tenn., left their jobs at the company on Feb. 4.

About a third of the 31 workers are now back on the job, following an offer by Dell and Spherion to return. The rest will be notified in writing with the same offer. The dispute was resolved at a meeting late last week between Dell, Spherion, the workers and mediators, Dell said.

Aside from the offer to return to work, the employees will be allowed time for prayer. Dell's religious tolerance policy allows for religious expression such as Muslims' evening prayers. However, a Dell spokesman said that on the day in question, workers were not allowed to pray due to a misunderstanding of that policy. Under the agreement, the companies will provide additional training to employees on the Dell religious tolerance policy.

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Muslim prayer time
We should all now see an explosion of religon in corporate America. (not a bad thing)
Maybe next we'll all get paid during our "prayer" time
Posted by Bob Smith (1 comment )
Reply Link Flag
ONLY N AMERICA
Why did Dell keep this on the hush hush? If this would have happened to non-Muslimic people, we would have been fired with no return. The last I hear walking off the job without permission is automatic termination. Dell needs to get their act together with their product line and financial services and insurance departments. I am disappointed in DELL.
Posted by LetyPowell (3 comments )
Link Flag
ONLY N AMERICA
Why did Dell keep this on the hush hush? If this would have happened to non-Muslimic people, we would have been fired with no return. The last I hear walking off the job without permission is automatic termination. Dell needs to get their act together with their product line and financial services and insurance departments. I am disappointed in DELL.
Posted by LetyPowell (3 comments )
Link Flag
ONLY N AMERICA
Why did Dell keep this on the hush hush? If this would have happened to non-Muslimic people, we would have been fired with no return. The last I hear walking off the job without permission is automatic termination. Dell needs to get their act together with their product line and financial services and insurance departments. I am disappointed in DELL.
Posted by LetyPowell (3 comments )
Link Flag
 

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