Similarly, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires an employer to accommodate an employee's sincerely held religious beliefs or practices unless . LockA locked padlock Thank you in advance for accommodating my request. Housing operated by religious organizations and private clubs may limit occupancy to members as. The requestor will be informed in writing of the decision to grant or deny the request, and of any conditions or limitations placed on the grant. I am a Seventh-day Adventist, and I observe the Sabbath as a day of rest and worship from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. Frequently Asked Questions, Commissioner Charges and Directed Investigations, Office of Civil Rights, Diversity and Inclusion, Management Directives & Federal Sector Guidance, Federal Sector Alternative Dispute Resolution, sincere religious, ethical or moral beliefs. 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 . Religious Exemption Letter. The University may request the student provide information to support the need for an accommodation based on the student's sincerely held religious belief. American University will make good faith efforts to provide reasonable religious accommodations to students whose sincerely held religious beliefs conflict with a university policy, procedure, or other academic requirement unless such an accommodation would create an undue hardship. 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; A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. For instance, your company may have a certain dress code that you cannot adhere to, expect you to work on what is classed as a day of rest in your religion, and so on. The accommodation [will begin or began] on [date] and end based upon future doctor visits. Fundamental requirements of the applicable academic program and/or related technical standards; Essential functions of an individual's job; Duties of others in the department or job group; Availability of alternative accommodations; Any undue hardship resulting from the requested accommodation; and. Should you have any questions about the reasoning or observance of this [name of religious holiday], please feel free to contact Hierald Osorto, Director of Religious and Spiritual Life, at hosorto@ithaca.edu. }); if($('.container-footer').length > 1){ An applicant or employee to practice or observe his or her religion. } Would you please let me know in the next week? 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 . If an employee asks for time off on Saturdays to attend a religious service but also is known to attend a drag racing club then, the employer can push back and ask if the worker will attend the religious service or the drag race. Reasonable religious accommodation requests will be made on a casebycase basis taking into account factors including but not limited to: nature of the accommodation requested; duration of the request; timeliness of the request; alternative accommodations; financial impact; academic impact; and other related factors. Any academic unit may issue additional or more specific information that is consistent with approved policy. I request Reasonable Accommodation to have {Company Name} {waive the requirement, provide a substitute, allow shift swap, etc.}. I have joined the office 5 months ago. 10 Examples of Religious Exemption Requests for Covid-19 Vaccines In the United States, employers have the responsibility to create a safe and unbiased work environment for people of different races and beliefs. student affairs representatives, faculty, managers, and/or supervisors) who participated in the interactive process. << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 5511 >> Given ongoing construction in our building and increased dust from it, my allergy symptoms have greatly increased. Bunting concluded by outlining best practices to follow when handling religious accommodation requests: If an employee rejects a good accommodation that an employer has offered, "you're golden," Bunting said. WASHINGTON (AFNS) --. The law protects people who have sincere religious, ethical or moral beliefs. Sample Accommodation Request Letter: Allergies Date of Letter Your name Your address Employer's name Employer's address Dear [Insert employer's name here]: Given ongoing construction in our building and increased dust from it, my allergy symptoms have greatly increased. Be courteous and professional and show that you are willing to meet your employer halfway. Leading up to the holiday, Hopkins Dining will refine their planning and will distribute full details to students prior to the beginning of Ramadan. 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. You can also download it, export it or print it out. OIE will then gather the necessary informationtoconsiderthe request. Particular considerations for different accommodation types include: A request for a religious accommodation for housing must be made before housing is requested. You are entitled to make this request, and your employer must make these accommodations based on the law of Equal Employment Opportunity. If the employer discovers the employee lied, then the employer has an additional factor to consider. This is false. Would you please let me know in the next week? Employer Letter Example: Vaccine Mandate Objection No authorship claim or copyright asserted.A letter that also came to me via a route like a letter in a bottle. if there are additional services at other times, or services offered on campus versus at a home congregation). The Office of the University Chaplain has communicated to the faculty via the Provosts office a list of major religious holy days. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Second, the religious belief must be "sincerely held" to be entitled to accommodation. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS var currentUrl = window.location.href.toLowerCase(); 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 an accommodation would violate a collective bargaining agreement, it would result in an undue hardship. 01. Dear Sir, With utmost respect and honor, it is stated that I work at your renowned company under customer representative designation. No attorney-client relationship is created by using the templates. Please give this request consideration at your earliest convenience. Sincerely, This form asks for information on the specific religious belief or conviction - whether religious, spiritual, or philosophical - that is the basis of the request, as well as the requestedaccommodation or modification to policy, practice, or schedule. Some examples include: 4. For accommodation ideas by disability or limitation, visit JANs A to Z page. 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. He has requested a schedule that would accommodate his religious observance of . Please log in as a SHRM member. And, it is also for encouraging and enticing your clients to visit your place of business as well. Train managers to recognize religious exemption requests and to refer them to HR. Make sure that you make it very clear what it is that you cannot comply with and why. University of Washington Religious Accommodations Policy. More than 10,000 requests from across the Total Force have been received, of which approximately 2,100 have been disapproved due to military readiness considerations. Additional information may be requested if needed to evaluate the request. A request for a religious accommodation for housing must be made before housing is requested. religious accommodation is met with resentment and jealousy by co-workers it is still a viable solution. 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 . 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). Model Letter: Requesting Religious Accommodation in the Face of COVID-19 Vaccine Workplace Mandate For good or bad, COVID-19 has changed the way we navigate the world and the way in which "we the people" exercise our rights. As part of our commitment to diversity, inclusion and non-discrimination, the University makes good faith efforts to reconcile potential conflicts between an individuals strongly heldreligious, spiritual or philosophicalbeliefs and university work or academic requirements. Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on religion. % It is the policy of the University of Washington to reasonably accommodate students' religious observances in accordance with RCW 28B.137.010.. Employer's name A religious accommodation is any adjustment to the work environment that will allow an employee or applicant to practice his or her religion. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Make a temporary accommodation while a permanent one is being arranged. On [enter date or dates] we will be observing [name of holiday]. Explain that you would like an accommodation to allow you to practice your religion at work. Describe what you expect this reasonable accommodation to be. Once OIE has all supporting documentation, it will strive for a 5 business day turnaround. An employer must try to arrange to allow the employee to meet these religious obligations. 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. I anticipate this arrangement would be necessary for only 5 or 6 weeks, or until the sun starts to set after 5:00 p.m. The Department's reasonable accommodation policy is outlined within Personnel Bulletin 21-03 Processing Requests for Reasonable Accommodation for Individuals with Disabilities. This isn't really a religious request, so the employer can push back and request a letter from a faith leader, she said. First-Year Residential Students Living on Campus: You can sign up for a kosher meal plan while registering for housing the summer before you arrive on campus.Second-Year Resident Students Living in McCoyor Charles Commons: You can sign up for a kosher meal plan while registering for housing the spring of your first year.Second-year Residential Students Living in Homewood Apartments, Bradford, or Rogerss House: You can sign up for a kosher meal plan while registering for housing the spring of your first year or by signing up for meal plans on theHousing Portal.Upperclassmen and Off-Campus Students: You can enroll for a Kosher meal plan on theHousing Portal by logging in with your JHED. SHRM Employment Law & Compliance Conference, Montana's governor made vaccination status a protected category, How to Push Back on Religious Accommodation Requests, New OSHA Guidance Clarifies Return-to-Work Expectations, Trump Suspends New H-1B Visas Through 2020, Faking COVID-19 Illness Can Have Serious Consequences, White House Takes Action Against Migrant Child Labor, Antisemitism Fears, Incidents Are Rising in the US, Federal Lawmakers Propose Ban on Noncompete Agreements. information only on official, secure websites. 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. Step 4. Any such request must be in a typed, legible, and double-sided letter. An official website of the United States government. Washington, DC 20507 Your manager may not be familiar with your church, and the law doesn't require employers to have an encyclopedic knowledge of every religion. JAN provides free, confidential technical assistance about job accommodations and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). I am writing to request religious accommodation for my observance of Sabbath. Ramadan Meal Options:Hopkins Dining is happy to add additional services and holiday specific menu items for students during Ramadan. I would be a violation of my deeply held sincere religious conviction to work on Sabbath--the 24 hour period from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. Financial Hardship Examples, Samples and Articles, Writing A Hardship Letter Religious Accommodation Discrimination, Writing A Hardship Letter Property Repairs. You cannot, in other words, expect an employer or any other form of organization to guess what your religious beliefs are, and to put the appropriate measures in place. I have pain in my lower back. Once an Airman or Guardian requests a vaccination exemption for religious reasons in writing to their commander, a chaplain is . 1-844-234-5122 (ASL Video Phone) An employer that requires vaccinations against COVID-19 must grant sincere religious accommodation requests, so long as they. Below I have included some possible ideas that could help at my workstation. Ask your manager to meet with you. The EEOC published a sample form that employers can use for religious accommodation requests from workers, which have risen as Covid-19 vaccine mandates proliferate in the workplace. 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 . 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. 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. (1) Observances of Worship and Holy Days. 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. {Your Address} Official websites use .gov Please note:To receive a religious accommodation, the religious observance must be one required by one's religious tradition. I am a Seventh-day Adventist, and I observe the Sabbath as a day of rest and worship from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. For instance, state that there is a company policy in place that requires you to do certain things that are not acceptable within your religion. Whenever possible, such requests should be submitted no less than 30 days in advance of the desired accommodation. . Staff with a medical, mental health, or developmental disability shall immediately contact their . 1-800-669-6820 (TTY) 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 Department of the Air Force is processing a number of Religious Accommodation Requests for the COVID-19 vaccine. Once OIE has all supporting documentation, it will strive for a 5 business day turnaround. A quick Q & A on religious exemptions. Based on that, state that you are now requesting for Reasonable Accommodation to be made within your company. Student Vaccine ExceptionRequests:Whenever possible, students should submit vaccine exceptionrequests to OIE at least 30 days in advance of Pre-Entrance Health Requirement Deadlines and OIE will do its best to respond in a timely manner. To request permission for specific items, click on the reuse permissions button on the page where you find the item. Don't be afraid to gently question the sincerity of the religion. Please let me know if you need additional information or would like to discuss additional ideas. An employer doesn't have to provide a religious accommodation if it poses an undue hardship to a business. 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. I am writing this letter to submit a request for accommodations in the workplace. 3. Exploring Religious Accommodation OptionsOIE will consider reasonable religious accommodation requests on a case?by?case basis and consider factors, including but not limited to the: OIE will endeavor to protect the requesting student or employees privacy in evaluating and processing the accommodation to the greatest extent possible. Consider the request. There are many types of accommodations. Questions regarding applying for housing should be directed to Housing Operations at (410) 516-7960 or housing@jhu.edu. You are encouraged to submit your request for accommodation ten (10) business days following implementation of the vaccination policy. Notice of Liability Sample Letter. Request for Religious Accommodation . Please log in as a SHRM member before saving bookmarks. Learn how SHRM Certification can accelerate your career growth by earning a SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. 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. The interactive process starts when a student or employeesubmits a religious accommodation request. Hiring and Staffing Dept. 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). $('.container-footer').first().hide(); Sample Email - Religious Accommodation Request. 2. However, I cannot receive a COVID-19 vaccine because to do so would violate my sincerely held religious beliefs. However, writing such an initial request can feel intimidating and employees can get nervous about what to include in the letter and how to word it. For Academic accommodations requests, students should seek to make arrangements with the appropriate professors first at the earliest opportunity. Given the current labor shortage, the employer might not want to lose the employee or have the worker complain about the company on social media, she added. I am willing to come to work earlier on Fridays, come to work on Sunday, or to cooperate in whatever arrangements may need to be made so I can retain my Sabbath observance according to my convictions. On [enter date or dates] we will be observing [name of holiday]. The University may suggest an alternative accommodation it deems reasonable to accommodate a request. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Please bear in mind that I do not request to have the Sabbath off in order to have an extra day at home to catch up on odd jobs or to engage in recreation or amusements. {Your Phone #} Find the latest news and members-only resources that can help employers navigate in an uncertain economy. The point of dedicating a page for accommodation requests is for your client to know your business more intimately like they know every inch of their personality. However, the rules do stipulate that you must make requests for certain accommodations based on your religious beliefs. As we approach the winter months, however, the sun sets earlier than at present. Recognizing a Religious Accommodation RequestThe Office of Institutional Equity ("OIE") receives and reviews all religious accommodation requests, including but not limited to vaccine exceptionrequests. (3) A request for the accommodation of religious practices may be granted in whole or in part. Sabbath Accommodation - Sundown Request - Employee Letter, Seventh-day Adventist Publications on Church - State Subjects. document.head.append(temp_style); You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Edit your religious accommodation approval letter online Type text, add images, blackout confidential details, add comments, highlights and more. Employees requesting a religious accommodation shall immediately contact their local Equal Employment Opportunity Coordinator. (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. 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. Please purchase a SHRM membership before saving bookmarks. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to engage in an interactive process. According to company policy at {Company Name}, I am required to {participate in function/religious event, follow certain dress codes, work on certain days, work certain hours, etc.}. Neither members nor non-members may reproduce such samples in any other way (e.g., to republish in a book or use for a commercial purpose) without SHRMs permission. 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. a description of the accommodation you are requesting; the reason you need an accommodation; and. 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. Your session has expired. A medical certification of both the underlying health condition and the necessity of an accommodation would likely be needed to support a request to be excused from a masking requirement. Requests for reasonable accommodation to participate in pre-employment polygraph examinations must be submitted to the Office . I would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation due to religious belief. Other objective reasons that a request isn't for religious reasons might include if the worker says he or she only puts organic substances into his or her body, defining organic substances as those that come from dirt. The letter should make it clear that you are requesting reasonable accommodation in view of your religious beliefs. Religious Accommodation Request Resolution Employee (identified below) has requested an accommodation related to a religious belief, practice, and/or requirement. To request a religious accommodation: You must submit the Request for Religious Accommodation Form t o your Departmental HR Manager (DHRM) or their designee. employee-religious-exemption-november-2021 Download Vaccine Religious Exemption A lock ( For that reason, I am requesting a religious accommodation, under Title VII and any similar [state where employer located] state law (s), that will excuse me from having to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, and further request that no adverse employment action be taken against me on account of my religious beliefs. Religious Exemption letter. Must an . Secular activitiesshopping, sports, employment, and entertainmentare laid aside. Request for Accommodation of Religious Practice SAMPLE 1. In order to establish the existence of a religious objection, it will be necessary for the individual to have specific religious beliefs which would be violated in a non-trivial way by receiving a particular vaccine. Inconsistent behavior with the professed belief. Scheduling accommodations may involve: 1. An applicant or employee may need a reasonable accommodation (a change to the way things are normally done at work) so he can practice or observe his religion. Your printed name. 4. The University Chaplain will also consult with others related to the student's request. 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. 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. Don't, for example, automatically laugh when an employee says he or she is a follower of the Jedi. Moreover, I am informed that the Federal Courts have held a reasonable accommodation is one that eliminates the conflict between the job duties and a workers religion. Examples of possible . In the meantime, they welcome feedback or questions from students who can reach them atdining@jhu.edu. Model Letter: Requesting Religious Accommodation in the Face of COVID-19 Vaccine Workplace Mandate Dear [Name of Human Resources Officer or other appropriate supervisor]: On [set forth date], I and other employees of [name of employer] were notified that all employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof thereof or face Employers can request additional information when religious accommodations are requested, Bunting noted. Dear Professor [last name], I am enrolled in your course [course number]. Please let me know your decision at your earliest convenience. Questions #1-7: Basic Information Questions 1 - 7 require . You are exclusively responsible and bear all risks associated with any user-generated content you submit or read. Virtual & Washington, DC | February 26-28, 2023. Since our company operates on the basis of a five-day workweek, Monday through Friday, there has not been any problem in my work schedule regarding having the hours of the Sabbath off. I identify as an observing [religious affiliation], and I am writing to request that you make accommodation for my religious observance this semester in accordance with the college's attendance policy. The employer shouldn't assume there is an undue hardship or automatically reject the requested accommodation but engage in a conversation with the employee about accommodation, Bunting said. Members may download one copy of our sample forms and templates for your personal use within your organization. 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. Make sure, as well, that the letter does not contain any grammatical or spelling errors. The religious accommodation request, if filed with an employment agency, may be submitted to the agency to whom the employee currently has a personnel management relationship. Each request is individually reviewed by . 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. For instance, you may ask for a shift swap, provide a substitute, or ask them to waive the requirement in full. Click the link TO DOWNLOAD A RAMADAN RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS REQUEST TEMPLATE. General Information Catalog IT Policies, Standards, and Guidelines 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. If there are any other ideas or options that you could provide it would be greatly appreciated. [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. Contact the University Chaplains Office only if there is a conflict in making the accommodations for a religious/cultural observance. This is likely to be your HR representative, but do check on that first. "Try your hardest to accommodate. Kosher Meal Plans: The university offers severalKosher meal plan optionsthat can be used at the The Taam Tov section of theHopkins Cafe. 5. It has been brought to the attention of The Vault Project that many employers are requesting a signed letter from a pastor on their religious exemption request forms for COVID vaccines. 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. else if(currentUrl.indexOf("/about-shrm/pages/shrm-mena.aspx") > -1) { Other objective reasons that the employer has to believe the requested accommodation isn't being sought for religious reasons.