Each request is individually reviewed by . How to Push Back on Religious Accommodation Requests - SHRM if(currentUrl.indexOf("/about-shrm/pages/shrm-china.aspx") > -1) {
Subject: Religious Accommodation for [Course Number]. The law requires that educational institutions must develop policies to accommodate student absences to allow students to take holidays for reasons of faith or conscience or for organized . (3) A request for the accommodation of religious practices may be granted in whole or in part. If an accommodation would violate a collective bargaining agreement, it would result in an undue hardship. }
[Company Name] is committed to providing equal employment opportunities without regard to any protected status, and a work environment that . Get the free religious accommodation examples form - pdfFiller (Note: This is a sample letter giving you a few theological reasons to help you with Biblical reasons to back up your claim for an exemption. If accommodation is easy, do it," said Kelly Dobbs Bunting, an attorney with Greenberg Traurig in Philadelphia, speaking at the SHRM Employment Law & Compliance Conference 2022on March 30 in Washington, D.C. Sabbath Accommodation - Sundown Request - Employee Letter DATE EMPLOYER NAME ADDRESS CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE RE: (YOUR NAME): Dear (NAME), As I believe you are aware, I am a Seventh-day Adventist. religious accommodation is met with resentment and jealousy by co-workers it is still a viable solution. I would like to work with you to explore how I can meet the requirements of your course while still honoring my religious practice. stream Monitoring the Religious AccommodationBecause changes occur, student affairs representatives and employers may need to periodically check on the ongoing effectiveness of religious accommodations. Religious Accommodation Request - Template Back Top Companies, however, have a leg up on public-sector employers when it comes to dealing with religious challenges to vaccine mandates. Please confirm that you want to proceed with deleting bookmark. 3. The letter should make it clear that you are requesting reasonable accommodation in view of your religious beliefs. I request Reasonable Accommodation to have {Company Name} {waive the requirement, provide a substitute, allow shift swap, etc.}. To help our brethren who may need support in writing a letter to establish a religious objection, we have created aReligious Accommodation Requesttemplate that can be used and modified to suit individual circumstances. A request for a religious accommodation for dining must document: As with housing and dining accommodations, medical accommodations should be made at the earliest possible opportunity after admission. This isn't really a religious request, so the employer can push back and request a letter from a faith leader, she said. Accommodation Approval Letter: 4 Templates (Free) - Writolay As you consider these examples, you may find it helpful to review How to Disclose a Disability and Request Accommodations in the Workplace on JANs page for Individuals, which also provides more information about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). However, unless the disability or the need for accommodation is obvious, it is the . Permitting a student or employee to take a particular day or time period off for a religious holiday; Providing a student or employee with a time and place to pray. The Interactive Process can begin in a number of ways. Letter of Accommodation Sample - DocumentsHub.Com For example, if an employer has to hire a temporary worker to cover Saturdays for an employee who misses shifts then for religious reasons, there might be an undue hardship in accommodating the employee, she said. You can also download it, export it or print it out. [1] Faculty/staff are hereafter referred to as employee(s).[2] Students who cannot take a quiz, test, or final exam on a scheduled date due to a religious observance must inform OIE of any conflicts before the semesters add/drop deadline, or as soon as possible after a particular assignment or examination date is announced. Please let me know your decision at your earliest convenience. }
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. For example, an applicant may ask to reschedule an interview that is on a religious holiday or an employee may request an exception to a "no hats" rule to wear a religious head covering, such as a yarmulke or hijab. This is a matter of considerable importance and urgency to me. In the meantime, they welcome feedback or questions from students who can reach them atdining@jhu.edu. Bunting noted that companies that previously placed employees on unpaid leave when they declined COVID-19 vaccinations for religious reasons are now bringing them back to the workplace. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's template is the same one the agency uses for its own employees, and was part of a Thursday update to . DOC Reasonable Accommodation Agreement - sample letter RA ensures equal opportunity in the job application, examination, and hiring processes that will enable a qualified applicant or employee with a disability to participate in those processes, and perform the essential functions of the job. This is likely to be your HR representative, but do check on that first. Request for Religious Accommodation - American University As a starting point, JAN offers general guidance about writing an accommodation request letter, which lays out possible elements to include in the body of the letter. It is your responsibility to make sure your employer has received the letter, and it is your responsibility to follow it up to make sure that your requested changes have been made. For Academic accommodations requests, students should seek to make arrangements with the appropriate professors first at the earliest opportunity. If employees have submitted a request for reasonable or religious accommodation due to the inability to comply with mandatory testing, they may request permission to remain off work, using their own leave credits or . It was created to assist you while you are recovering. For example, if someone wants to wear long, loose-fitting religious attire near a bagel slicer, the employer might decline the request, but try to find another position for the worker away from the bagel slicer. A Template for the "Request for a Religious Exemption to the COVID-19 Thank you for considering my request. Depending on the circumstances, some examples of workplace accommodations may include: providing a woven cloth mask or personal protective equipment (PPE); physical distancing or modifying the work environment; modifying work schedules; Staff with a medical, mental health, or developmental disability shall immediately contact their . Make sure that you make it very clear what it is that you cannot comply with and why. PDF Manager Workplace Religious Accommodation Toolkit: If the student does not belong to a religious community that could provide this letter,the student should indicate this in their letter and request a letter from the University Chaplain after due consultation with the University Chaplain. Dear Professor [last name], I am enrolled in your course [course number]. Religious Discrimination and Accommodation in the Federal Workplace If you have questions or concerns, please contact, Whenever possible, employees should submit vaccine exceptionrequests to OIE at least 30 days in advance of, Johns Hopkins Medicine Compliance Deadlines. 2000(e) requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation for employees religious observances. Homewood Housing Requests:The university recognizes that student observance of their faith may require special consideration for housing assignments. the type of workplace and the nature of the employee's duties, including whether the employee requesting a religious accommodation to a COVID-19 vaccination requirement works outdoors or indoors . Title VII: Religious accommodations to COVID-19 vaccine requirements Religious accommodation requests to employer vaccination policies Attach a copy of the policy, highlighting the issue at hand. Ths request should include relevant information such as: Once a request is submitted, the University Chaplain will initiate an interactive process to determine if the request can be accommodated as requested and, if not, what, if any, alternative arrangements can be made. Writing A Hardship Letter To Social Security. }, I believe that such a request would not be unsafe, inconvenient, or costly. Second, the religious belief must be "sincerely held" to be entitled to accommodation. Sample Accommodation Request Letter. The Jedi religion is listed by the military as one of more than 200 religions it recognizes. Suspicious timing might arise if a worker requests and is denied time off on a Saturday and then the worker claims to have joined a religious organization that meets then and revives the request. Would you please let me know in the next week? Please give this request consideration at your earliest convenience. Unlike with disability accommodations, cost often may be a winning undue hardship argument for employers when religious accommodations are requested. Students and employees must generally submit religious accommodation requests annually. I am writing to request religious accommodation for my observance of Sabbath. Johns Hopkins UniversityWyman Park Building, Suite 5153400 North Charles StreetBaltimore, Maryland 21218, If you wish to submit proof of your COVID-19 vaccination or request a religious exception for the COVID-19 vaccine requirement, please do so via the Universitys. SAMPLE REQUEST FOR RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION [STUDENT] Dear [School Administration]: [School] has issued a directive requiring me, a student enrolled in [school] [or, if the student is a minor, my child [name of student], a student enrolled in [school],] to get vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine. employee-religious-exemption-november-2021 Download Vaccine Religious Exemption I therefore respectfully request that you make an accommodation for my religious belief, observance, and practice in keeping with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the guidelines of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by allowing me to leave work on the Fridays in question just prior to sundown. if there are additional services at other times, or services offered on campus versus at a home congregation). Religious Accommodations - Navy An employer violated federal law when it refused to grant an employee an exemption from its mandatory flu shot policy without a note from a clergy leader, the federal government has alleged in a . I have the interest of the company at heart. When May an Employer Reject a Religious Accommodation Request? - SHRM It is difficult to say with certainty how long it can take to process requests, as many factors could impact timing (i.e., volume, complexity and availability of the student for follow up questions and/or their ability to timely provide supporting documentation). If there is more than one option, the student affairs representative or employer will balance a student oremployees expressed preference with operational or academic considerations.Religious accommodations can take many forms. In addition, having a list of what I might need to do for the workday/week could also help me keep track of my work. Consider the request. Sincerely, Your manager may not be familiar with your church, and the law doesn't require employers to have an encyclopedic knowledge of every religion. Although a manager may consider it reasonable to permit me to have, say, every other Saturday off work, this would not actually accommodate my belief, since I cannot work on any Sabbath. Ramadan Meal Options:Hopkins Dining is happy to add additional services and holiday specific menu items for students during Ramadan. An official website of the United States government. If it impacts safety, the employer can also say no to the accommodation request, she said. Notice of Liability Sample Letter. Request for Religious Accommodation . I would like to request an exception based on my religious beliefs and practices. The need for religious accommodation may arise where an individual's religious beliefs, observances or practices conflict with a specific task or requirement of the position or an application process . Sample Request for Religious Accommodation [Employment] Housing operated by religious organizations and private clubs may limit occupancy to members as. General Information Catalog IT Policies, Standards, and Guidelines One option that I would propose is [enter request]. Please note that accommodation requests received past the deadline will not be considered until afterhousing assignments are determined. {Your Name} Avoid application of punitive leave policies. A business also might reject a religious accommodation request if the accommodation would decrease workplace efficiency, such as if everyone else has to cover the worktime of the employee who is missing work regularly, she said. If the employer discovers the employee lied, then the employer has an additional factor to consider. I look forward to hearing from you soon regarding this request. $('.container-footer').first().hide();
Employer's name A lock ( The first step is to request an accommodation. I am informed that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. I would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation due to religious belief. Governor Jay Inslee is requiring thousands of employees to get . But for employees who need more ideas, the following examples offer additional guidance about how to communicate the need for an accommodation for various types of medical conditions. Your signature description of the accommodation you are requesting; A written letter to the chief official of the school, President Sylvia Burwell, that states the immunization would violate their religious belief as required by DC Code Section 38-506. In some cases, OIE may need to obtain additional information and/or documentation about the student or employee's religious or spiritual practice(s) or belief(s). Document accommodations the employer tried to make and that the employee rejected. }); if($('.container-footer').length > 1){
It is difficult to say with certainty how long it can take to process requests, as many factors could impact timing (i.e., volume, complexity and availability of the student for follow up questions and/or their ability to timely provide supporting documentation). << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 5511 >> Workplace distractions interfere with my concentration and focus so I would like to try noise cancelling headphones to minimize sound distractions. Implementing the Religious AccommodationTo communicate the final accommodation, OIE will issue in writing a religious accommodation approval letter to the employee or student, and copy those relevant individuals (i.e. The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has excellent regulations and a compliance manual with lots of information and suggestions for how someone, like myself, can be accommodated. We have noticed that many brethren in Canada and elsewhere are facing the loss of employment for their unwillingness to comply with recent vaccine mandates in the workplace. REQUEST FOR RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION / ACCOMMODATION RELATED TO [COMPANY NAME'S] COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY by offering opportunities for discussion, reminding people of available support services, and leading at a difficult time with compassion and empathy. For incoming students, a request must be made at the earliest possible opportunity after admission. Responding to Requests for Religious Exemptions from COVID-19 It covers COVID-19 vaccine requirements and mandates, too. I observe the seventh-day of the week (Saturday) as the Sabbath as taught by my church in harmony with the Old and New Testament teachings of the Bible. COVID-19 Related Accommodation Or Workplace Adjustment Information Canadian law grants protection to an individuals personal religious beliefs which are sincerely held, regardless of whether those beliefs are adhered to by others or even by the faith community to which the individual belongs. Gathering InformationOIE asks students and employees to complete the religious accommodation request form. The Office of the University Chaplain has communicated to the faculty via the Provosts office a list of major religious holy days. Please note that all such forms and policies should be reviewed by your legal counsel for compliance with applicable law, and should be modified to suit your organizations culture, industry, and practices. OIE may need to discuss the nature of the religious belief(s, practice(s), and accommodation(s) with a student or employee's spiritual leader (if applicable) or religious or philosophy scholars to address the request for an exception. PDF Mandatory Employee COVID-19 Testing and Non-Compliance - CDCR x][s} d
=@_(3"I7ZqOnmY.=s@C`0NT6_w5_/O?a(Km~]Wy]]? If there are any other ideas or options that you could provide it would be greatly appreciated. All content available on or through samplehardshipletter.org is for general information purposes only. FREE 34+ Accommodation Request Forms in PDF | MS Word | Excel - sampleforms If employers get an accommodation request from a believer in a religion that is so obscure there's no faith leader, Bunting recommended asking the employee to e-mail HR a paragraph describing why . Based on that, state that you are now requesting for Reasonable Accommodation to be made within your company. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to engage in an interactive process. For religious exemptions toimmunization requirements, students should submit along with their requests: Please email your request, your letter to President Burwell, andaletter from a leader of your faith community (or a request for consultation with the University Chaplain)to president@american.edu. Click the link TO DOWNLOAD A RAMADAN RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS REQUEST TEMPLATE. I do not wish to have a conflict between my job duties and my obligations to God. whether the employee requesting a religious accommodation to a Covid-19 vaccination requirement works outdoors or indoors; whether the employee works in a solitary or group work setting, or has . Sabbath Accommodation - Sundown Request - Employee Letter, Seventh-day Adventist Publications on Church - State Subjects. Here in Canada the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) offers this advice: The religious objections held by individuals to specific vaccines will vary significantly. (800) 526-7234 (Voice) | (877) 781-9403 (TTY) | Employer Live Chat, Home| About| For Employers| For Individuals| For Others| On Demand, Feedback| Accessibility| Copyright| Disclaimer| Privacy, Examples of Accommodation Request Letters, Personal air purifier (for my office) and air filters (for HVAC), or. The sample letter linked contains false information such as: The COVID-19 vaccines are experimental gene therapy. Hence, your letter should also explain how your request will only pose a minor burden. Individuals covered by the federal vaccination mandate currently impacting nine Penn State campuses who believe that their sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances prevent them from receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, may complete an online accommodation request form on or before Nov. 5. Expand your toolbox with the tools and techniques needed to fix your organizations unique needs. According to new guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), employers can push back when there is: HR may speak with supervisors and inquire about whether the person talks about religion at work or has ever asked for specific days off. You are encouraged to submit your request for accommodation ten (10) business days following implementation of the vaccination policy. A quick Q & A on religious exemptions. A request for a religious accommodation for housing must document: a description of the accommodation you are requesting; PDF Religious Accommodation in the Workplace - adl.org University Policy Office | University Compliance Services An employer that rejects such a request should be OK if it's sued in such circumstances, and it likely will be sued, she added. Request for Accommodation of Religious Practice SAMPLE 1. For Airmen seeking a religious accommodation request, chaplains play a critical role in ensuring each request is fully considered in accordance with DAFI 52-201, Religious Freedom in the Department of the Air Force. (1) Observances of Worship and Holy Days. To permit me to have Sabbath off once or twice a month would not suffice as a reasonable accommodation, since it would still force me to choose between my religion and my job. Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Procedures, File a Discrimination and Harassment Report, ADA Compliance and Disability Accommodations, Accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, Faculty and Staff Workplace Accommodations, Faculty and Staff Workplace Accommodation RequestForm, Documentation Guidelines for Individuals with Disabilities, Pre-Entrance Health Requirement Deadlines, Homewood Campus: University Housing Religious Accommodation Request Form. A Sample Letter Your Pastor Can Sign for Your Vaccine Religious Religious Covid Vaccine Objections Can Come From 'Church of One' Virtual & Washington, DC | February 26-28, 2023. Work on Sunday or holidays in place of Saturday. You are entitled to make this request, and your employer must make these accommodations based on the law of Equal Employment Opportunity. "Each of the manufactures of the Covid vaccines currently available developed and confirmed their vaccines using fetal cell lines, which originated from aborted fetuses. These may prove helpful to consult. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter further at your convenience. Site information is not to be replaced with or considered professional medical advice. Your name Religious beliefs are one freedom protected in the workplace by Title VII of the US Civil Rights Act of 1964. These beliefs must be sincerely held, and an individuals pattern of conduct consistent with those beliefs will help to prove that they are sincerely held. JAN provides free, confidential technical assistance about job accommodations and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). He has requested a schedule that would accommodate his religious observance of . Step 4. 11/2/21 Updated religious exemption template Attached is a sample template that can be modified for your use as your prepare your employee religious exemption.