religious accommodation request letter sample

You can also download it, export it or print it out. Make sure that you make it very clear what it is that you cannot comply with and why. When May an Employer Reject a Religious Accommodation Request? Don't be afraid to gently question the sincerity of the religion. 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. Document accommodations the employer tried to make and that the employee rejected. I am writing this letter to submit a request for accommodations in the workplace. Thank you for your consideration and understanding in this matter. Workplace distractions interfere with my concentration and focus so I would like to try noise cancelling headphones to minimize sound distractions. The EEOC, which enforces Title VII and recently updated its pandemic guidance on vaccine exemptions, defines religion in the workplace bias context as firmly and sincerely held religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. He has requested a schedule that would accommodate his religious observance of . Employer's name Students are required to check their course syllabi at the beginning of the semester, make any conflicts with religious/cultural observances known to their professors, and discuss arrangements for missed classes or assignments. The Justice Centre does not have a standard template to address such individual beliefs. Housing operated by religious organizations and private clubs may limit occupancy to members as. Religious Accommodation Request Template. 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. A final thing to remember is that, as stated, while it is your right to have these accommodations made where possible, you must formally request them. The Interactive Process is the way in which employees, supervisors, and their departments arrive at a reasonable accommodation. As I believe you are aware, I am a Seventh-day Adventist. 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. 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. 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. 02. Example Letter "Religious Reasonable Accompaniment Form" Please print or type the enclosed Letter, and attach it to the Religious Reasonable Accommodation form and fax it to: New Jersey Department of Corrections. An official website of the United States government. Sabbath Accommodation Request - Employee Letter, Seventh-day Adventist Publications on Church - State Subjects. Thank you in advance for accommodating my request. {Your Address} Your name Other objective reasons that the employer has to believe the requested accommodation isn't being sought for religious reasons. General Information Catalog IT Policies, Standards, and Guidelines Bunting recalled one employee who claimed that being a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles was a religion and he needed Sundays off. 1-844-234-5122 (ASL Video Phone), Call 1-800-669-4000 Any academic unit may issue additional or more specific information that is consistent with approved policy. Professional Studies and Executive Education, American University's United Methodist Affiliation, submit an online request for reasonable religious accommodations. Implementing the Religious Accommodation Sabbath observance is so important to Adventists that it is part of our churchs name, i.e., Seventh-day.. A letter from a religious leader of the faith community to which the student is a member stating the need for an exemption. 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. If it impacts safety, the employer can also say no to the accommodation request, she said. 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. }); if($('.container-footer').length > 1){ Treat every employee's reasonable accommodation request as legitimate on its face. I am a Seventh-day Adventist, and I observe the Sabbath as a day of rest and worship from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. 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. The Office of the University Chaplain has communicated to the faculty via the Provosts office a list of major religious holy days. 4. 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. Employers are supposed to start out with the assumption that the employee's religious belief is sincere. PO Box 81489 Middlesex, NJ 08 Fax Number: Your accommodation request will be reviewed by your . It has become more difficult to breathe while in the office, even in my own personal office. All content available on or through samplehardshipletter.org is for general information purposes only. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. This is false. There are also Kosher retail items available for purchase at theCharles Street Market (Char Mar). Once OIE has all supporting documentation, it will strive for a 5 business day turnaround. This sample letter can be used to ask your employer or prospective workplace for reasonable accommodations you need in the hiring process or for your job. Ashanti McShan, a 17-year old high-school student, was excited about her first day of work at Burger King. 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. 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. It's been wonderful working here, everyone is very supporting and company really acknowledges employees work. Additional information may be requested if needed to evaluate the request. I have the interest of the company at heart. Requested accommodations vary - an employee may need a particular day off each year for a religious holiday; or to refrain from work every week on his or her Sabbath; or to wear religious garb; or to have a place to pray. Religious Exemption letter. c. Types of Accommodation Requests. As this would cause minimal burden for only minor {rescheduling, uniform changes, etc. I realize the need for this requested accommodation is still a few months away, but I wanted to make arrangements in advance so that we can discuss it and plan. Religious Exemption Letter. 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 . For example. Attach a copy of the policy, highlighting the issue at hand. Any such request must be in a typed, legible, and double-sided letter. Send religious accommodation letter sample via email, link, or fax. 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. 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. She had just been hired as a cashier at the fast-food restaurant. Once a religious objection to taking a vaccine is established, an employer has a duty to accommodate that religious belief up to the point of undue hardship. Subject: Assertion of Religious Exemption to Vaccination and Request for Accommodation. 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). 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 . [2]It is important for student affairs representatives, faculty, human resources, and supervisors to recognize a request and to refer the student or employee to OIE to initiate the interactive process. 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. 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. I have pain in my lower back. Examples of possible . This is a matter of considerable importance and urgency to me. Dear Sir, With utmost respect and honor, it is stated that I work at your renowned company under customer representative designation. On [enter date or dates] we will be observing [name of holiday]. You should consult an attorney for legal advice specific to your . 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. Work on Sunday or holidays in place of Saturday. For Academic accommodations requests, students should seek to make arrangements with the appropriate professors first at the earliest opportunity. For instance, if you are unable to work on a Sunday, offer to work on a different unpopular shift instead, so that your colleagues are not disproportionately disadvantaged by your request either. Need help with a specific HR issue like coronavirus or FLSA? Each request is individually reviewed by . Please log in as a SHRM member. $("span.current-site").html("SHRM China "); 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.}. 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. [Company Name] is committed to providing equal employment opportunities without regard to any protected status, and a work environment that . A religious accommodation is any adjustment to the work environment that will allow an employee or applicant to practice his or her religion. Sitting or standing for long periods of time in the same position is causing increased pain and is decreasing my mobility. Change employee to a shift or department that does not operate on Friday night or Saturday. And here is where the vaccine issue becomes even more complicated. 2000(e) requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation for employees religious observances. If a religious accommodation infringes on co-workers' ability to perform their tasks or creates a hostile work environment the accommodation will likely qualify as an undue hardship and therefore not a reasonable accommodation. For incoming students, a request must be made at the earliest possible opportunity after admission. For accommodation ideas by disability or limitation, visit JANs A to Z page. 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. (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. 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. If an accommodation would violate a collective bargaining agreement, it would result in an undue hardship. Second, the religious belief must be "sincerely held" to be entitled to accommodation. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to engage in an interactive process. 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 . Hardship Letter Religious Accommodation Discrimination Example {Your Name} {Your Address} {Your Phone #} {Your Loan #} {Date} To Whom It May Concern: I would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation due to religious belief. Some examples include: Permitting a student or employee to take a particular day or time period off for a religious holiday; Permitting flexible scheduling; and Providing a student or employee with a time and place to pray. I will be very grateful if you could assist me in achieving a suitable schedule to avoid such a conflict. Explain that you would like an accommodation to allow you to practice your religion at work. [Company name] (the Company) has engaged in good faith written and/or oral communications If an employee is resisting an employer-required COVID-19 vaccine because it was derived from fetal cell lines, the employer might ask whether the employee has received a flu vaccine or has ever taken a medication that was similarly createdand there are many, including aspirin. Employees requesting a religious accommodation shall immediately contact their local Equal Employment Opportunity Coordinator. Train managers to recognize religious exemption requests and to refer them to HR. 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. An employee may 01. {Your Loan #}. Below I have included some possible ideas that could help at my workstation. 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 first step in requesting an accommodation in the workplace is to decide how to make the request. I often suggest employees consider making a written request so they can decide what to say and how to say it without the stress of a face-to-face meeting with their employer. 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. University of Washington Religious Accommodations Policy. (3) A request for the accommodation of religious practices may be granted in whole or in part. I would like to request for accommodations to help decrease the pain caused by my back condition. } Your session has expired. Learn how SHRM Certification can accelerate your career growth by earning a SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. At JAN, I often discuss options with employees about what might be useful to include and how to clearly explain what accommodation is needed. You are entitled to make this request, and your employer must make these accommodations based on the law of Equal Employment Opportunity. Companies, however, have a leg up on public-sector employers when it comes to dealing with religious challenges to vaccine mandates. 1/9/2019 Employer Address City, State, Zip Code RE: Accommodation for Religious Belief and Practice Dear (HR Person's Name): I am writing this letter on behalf of your employee, xxxxxx, who is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. If that effort fails or if the particular University office has questions, students may submit an online request for reasonable religious accommodations. When we met with you, we discussed what type of accommodation you . Step 4. 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. I would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation due to religious belief. Expand your toolbox with the tools and techniques needed to fix your organizations unique needs. 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. Questions #1-7: Basic Information Questions 1 - 7 require . Subject: Religious Accommodation for [Course Number]. 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 . State that you are a practicing member of a certain religion. Ramadan Meal Options:Hopkins Dining is happy to add additional services and holiday specific menu items for students during Ramadan. 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. To request permission for specific items, click on the reuse permissions button on the page where you find the item. Washington, DC 20507 When the economy is unstable, employers are faced with difficult decisions around staffing, pay and benefits. You have successfully saved this page as a bookmark. The University Chaplain will also consult with others related to the student's request. 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). Sample Accommodation Request Letter. 3. Unlike with disability accommodations, cost often may be a winning undue hardship argument for employers when religious accommodations are requested. Contact the University Chaplains Office only if there is a conflict in making the accommodations for a religious/cultural observance. The most effective way to monitor religious accommodations is to encourage ongoing communication.Religious accommodations remain in effect through the date included on the approval letter unless the student or employee is notified by the University of a change. Students and employees must generally submit religious accommodation requests annually. Gathering InformationOIE asks students and employees to complete the religious accommodation request form. [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. For Deaf/Hard of Hearing callers: 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. 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. 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 .