Question:
Employees working in a shop leave for four daily prayers during working hours, taking about 30 minutes each time. But they do not attend Fajr prayer in congregation, nor do they go for prayers on holidays. So, I told them: If you attend Fajr in congregation, you may go for the other prayers. Otherwise, I have allocated a place in the shop—pray there instead. Am I wrong?
Answer:
From the description, it appears they are not going sincerely for prayer but using it as an opportunity to leave work. If they truly valued congregational prayer, they would attend Fajr and also go on holidays. Since they don’t, it suggests they are misusing work time.
Congregational prayer is highly emphasized Sunnah, but there is no obligation that they must pray only in the mosque. If they pray inside the shop, they can complete it in 5–10 minutes.
If they go outside, they may take much longer, which becomes time theft from the employer.
Preventing wrongdoing and protecting both your business and their accountability is not wrong. Your approach is not incorrect.