It does seem unfair that the non observant jewish employees are allowed to leave early on fridays. But what most of you fraysters don't understand is that the employers are not allowed to let any Jew violate the sabbath, whether these employees privately observe the sabbath or not. The employers can not according to Halacha ( Jewish code of Law) benefit from work done on the sabbath by Jewish employees. Jewish Religious Law is extremely complicated and intricate.

My goodness - neither of you understand the law. You CANNOT require some people of some religions to work longer hours than other people of other religions. Even if this is a job paying by the hour there would be problems. Why not just close the office during those winter hours, or, ask for volunteers who would be paid extra.

LibRob:

My goodness - neither of you understand the law. You CANNOT require some people of some religions to work longer hours than other people of other religions. Even if this is a job paying by the hour there would be problems. Why not just close the office during those winter hours, or, ask for volunteers who would be paid extra.

Yes you can tell the non-Jewish employees to stay. This first amendment religious accomodation. Teachers who give tests on Friday have to accomodate holidays ans Sabbath withou changing things for the Christians. Seventh Day Adventists also get the accomodation.

The LW has no legal case.

Except the non-religious Jews get the hours as well.

It would be nice if the non-Jewish employees are compensated for having to work longer hours then OR given the option of having more vacation time. I can see where the letter writer might feel taken advantage of when the Jewish employers are profiting from the work that the non-Jews do.

You seem to be confusing the civil laws of this country with Jewish religious law. If the bosses don't want to break Jewish religious laws by keeping Jewish workers around at sunset on Sabbath, that's fine, but they are doing it at the expense of employment laws. They are actually breaking the law, and a complaint to a state labor department might be necessary to set them straight. Besides, it's kinda jerky to give perks to one class of workers and not the other, especially if you tell all incoming workers they can expect said perk then whip it out from under them after they're hired. No matter how complex Jewish religious law is, I doubt it would look kindly at such an act as lying to new hires.

It seems to me the real issue here is a total lack of tact and foresight by the employer. I think some solution could be reached that complies with both Jewish and secular law w/o engendering resentment from non-Jewish workers. But based on the tone of the letter is seems the employers are completely clueless.

Are we forgetting "The Golden Rule" here! He who has the gold, makes the rules. In these family owned small businesses, the owners make whatever rules they want (the law be damned) and those of us poor smucks who have to work for a living, should be (maybe even should just ACT) greatful for the job. Otherwise owners simply find somebody else willing to do the job better for less money! Believe me when I say I have been there, done that. The first one to complain about the rules being unfair is the first one fired when the owner decides he needs more money in his own pocket and especially when the "more money" isn't likely to come from increased sales!

I've worked for Jewish people, and I've worked for Seventh Day Adventists also. The SDA's were more observant regarding observing the Sabath. And they insisted ALL employees observe that element of the Sabath that requires the business office to be closed by sundown on Fridays. To the SDA's, it was also an issue of respect for their religious beliefs.

It IS accommodation as long as those employees are making up the hours elsewhere, or taking less compensation. It is discrimination if they get paid an equal amount for less work. That's the law.

LibRob:

My goodness - neither of you understand the law. You CANNOT require some people of some religions to work longer hours than other people of other religions. Even if this is a job paying by the hour there would be problems. Why not just close the office during those winter hours, or, ask for volunteers who would be paid extra.

Sorry Lib YOU got it wrong.
to make the Jewish workers stay is against the law. the minute christians start worshiping on friday nights us Jews will let you leave early. until then all you get is to NOT have to work on Sunday.

Why not let the non-Jews leave early on Fridays during the summer? I bet that's a trade the LW would make. Might test the sincerity of the Jewish employees as well.

sayraht:

LibRob:

My goodness - neither of you understand the law. You CANNOT require some people of some religions to work longer hours than other people of other religions. Even if this is a job paying by the hour there would be problems. Why not just close the office during those winter hours, or, ask for volunteers who would be paid extra.

Sorry Lib YOU got it wrong.
to make the Jewish workers stay is against the law. the minute christians start worshiping on friday nights us Jews will let you leave early. until then all you get is to NOT have to work on Sunday.

No sayraht, it's you who has it wrong. Discrimination based on religion is against the law. That fact requires both ACCOMODATION for religious requirements AND specifically making sure that nobody gets preferential or detrimental treatment based on their religion. Allowing members of one religion to work FEWER HOURS is preferential for them, and detrimental for followers of other religions. The remedy: in this case, the Jews must make up the hours elsewhere in the week, or perhaps during the summer months. By doing this they get the religious accomodation they require, without making those of another religion suffer religious detriment.

Really? I live in Michigan and it seems like not one week goes by without some factory or office announcing that it's closing and laying off 100, 200, 400 workers. People are losing their jobs, their homes... and this one is complaining that he/she has to work 5 FULL DAYS!!! OMG!! These are the problems we need to be dealing with.

christiedoll:

Really? I live in Michigan and it seems like not one week goes by without some factory or office announcing that it's closing and laying off 100, 200, 400 workers. People are losing their jobs, their homes... and this one is complaining that he/she has to work 5 FULL DAYS!!! OMG!! These are the problems we need to be dealing with.

It's easy to dismiss other's problems that don't relate to you. For me, this is a discussion about what the LAW is--not what is the best tactical move for the employee.