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 . 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. 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). Make accommodation policies clear, and apply them equally even if the employer has never heard of the religion. Your address If that effort fails or if the particular University office has questions, students may submit an online request for reasonable religious accommodations. } Kosher Meal Plans: The university offers severalKosher meal plan optionsthat can be used at the The Taam Tov section of theHopkins Cafe. You should consult an attorney for legal advice specific to your . Any such request must be in a typed, legible, and double-sided letter. To request permission for specific items, click on the reuse permissions button on the page where you find the item. 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. 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. 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. Gain the intel you need now to successfully anticipate and navigate employment laws, stay compliant and mitigate legal risks. Thank you for considering my request. T hank you for considering my request. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. And, it is also for encouraging and enticing your clients to visit your place of business as well. At JAN, I often discuss options with employees about what might be useful to include and how to clearly explain what accommodation is needed. Change employee to a shift or department that does not operate on Friday night or Saturday. Below is a guide with suggestions and sample answers to help you complete your COVID vaccine religious exemption request using the Department of Defense 'DD 3177 Religious Exemption Form' along with notes to help you avoid the obvious "pitfalls" weaved into this document to undermine your ability to obtain a religious exemption. This template letter is not intended to give legal advice, but rather general legal information and serve as a general resource. For accommodation ideas by disability or limitation, visit JANs A to Z page. State that your request is not costly, inconvenient, or unsafe in any way, and should therefore be granted. This isn't really a religious request, so the employer can push back and request a letter from a faith leader, she said. This is a matter of considerable importance and urgency to me. Thank you in advance for accommodating my request. Hence, you will need to write a hardship letter religious accommodation discrimination. If an employer has tried everything else, unpaid leave is acceptable. A request for a religious accommodation for housing must be made before housing is requested. For incoming students, a request must be made at the earliest possible opportunity after admission. However, the law does stipulate that the employer only has to conform if the accommodation will not cause the company any undue hardship. When May an Employer Reject a Religious Accommodation Request? It was created to assist you while you are recovering. 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. information only on official, secure websites. 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. Your name 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. If students are sabbath-observant, they must make this fact known to their professors for any course in which Saturday work is required. Would you please let me know in the next week? I would like to suggest the following accommodations to address this issue: Please let me know if you need additional information or would like to discuss additional ideas. Please contact [email protected] or consult the Hopkins dining webpage if you have additional questions. Given ongoing construction in our building and increased dust from it, my allergy symptoms have greatly increased. 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. 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). Learn how SHRM Certification can accelerate your career growth by earning a SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. 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. 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. Employer's name Below I have included some possible ideas that could help at my workstation. For instance, you may ask for a shift swap, provide a substitute, or ask them to waive the requirement in full. Sabbath Accommodation Request - Employee Letter DATE EMPLOYER NAME ADDRESS CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE RE: (YOUR NAME) Dear (NAME): I am writing to request religious accommodation for my observance of Sabbath. 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. Employers can push backgentlyon religious accommodation requests and don't have to grant requests that would result in an undue hardship, which is much easier for employers to show for religious accommodation requests than disability accommodation requests. I would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation due to religious belief. An employee may Companies, however, have a leg up on public-sector employers when it comes to dealing with religious challenges to vaccine mandates. In an effort to meet individual students needs, Housing Operations will work directly with the Office of Institutional Equity and the Office of Religious & Spiritual Life for assigning students who are approved for religion-based housing accommodations.To request a religious-based housing accommodation, students should submit the Homewood Campus: University Housing Religious Accommodation Request Form to the Office of Institutional Equity by the following deadlines based on their class. For Academic accommodations requests, students should seek to make arrangements with the appropriate professors first at the earliest opportunity. Make sure, as well, that the letter does not contain any grammatical or spelling errors. M`f"_qy7iSvvhBnq>!I+b"j0GL1Hy=3qIRrK{ 7\p% $K'@? < e/q[4T5iC`t`]fX`W_da(dk5 GadSh7(C/?. Examples of possible . I will be very grateful if you could assist me in achieving a suitable schedule to avoid such a conflict. Some examples include: 4. 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Because many people still do not want to be vaccinated, a number of websites have . how the accommodation will help resolve the conflict between your religious beliefs or practices and a university policy, procedure, or other academic requirement. The law requires that employees and employers engage in the Interactive Process. 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. For Deaf/Hard of Hearing callers: 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 . c. Types of Accommodation Requests. The law protects people who have sincere religious, ethical or moral beliefs. Upon approval of a request for a religious exemption to immunization, the student may be asked to sign a release acknowledging that in the event of an outbreak, the student may face particular restrictions regarding classes, housing, or other activities. The hiring manager had assured her that [] Bunting recalled one employee who claimed that being a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles was a religion and he needed Sundays off. Sincerely, Questions regarding applying for housing should be directed to Housing Operations at (410) 516-7960 or [email protected]. 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. I am informed that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. Dear Boss, First, I request a religious exemption. Washington, DC 20507 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. Your letter should be a formal one, addressed to the right person. 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 [email protected]. 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. There are many types of accommodations. 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. WASHINGTON (AFNS) --. Describe what you expect this reasonable accommodation to be. 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. 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 Sabbath is sacred to me and I devote these hours to God. I do not wish to have a conflict between my job duties and my obligations to God. Document accommodations the employer tried to make and that the employee rejected. Subject: Religious Accommodation for [Course Number]. If the employer discovers the employee lied, then the employer has an additional factor to consider. I am a practicing member of {Religion}. Your session has expired. 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. 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 . 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. I look forward to hearing from you soon regarding this request. Please note:To receive a religious accommodation, the religious observance must be one required by one's religious tradition. 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. In the meantime, they welcome feedback or questions from students who can reach them [email protected]. a permanent position. Explain that you would like an accommodation to allow you to practice your religion at work. % I have the interest of the company at heart. 1-800-669-6820 (TTY) 5. I am grateful for my job, and always strive to do my very best at work. 1-844-234-5122 (ASL Video Phone) 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. 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. 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 . I welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter further at your convenience. << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 5511 >> } Manager Responsibilities - Reasonable Accommodation Tips, 131 M Street, NE 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 . Examples of Accommodations We strive to be creative and flexible in arriving at a reasonable accommodation. 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. This catalog is the document of authority for all students and includes undergraduate, graduate, law, and medical students. %PDF-1.3 A request for a religious accommodation for housing must document: A request for a religious accommodation for dining must be made at the earliest possible opportunity after admission. Once OIE has all supporting documentation, it will strive for a 5 business day turnaround. x][s} d =@_(3"I7ZqOnmY.=s@C`0NT6_w5_/O?a(Km~]Wy]]? An employer must try to arrange to allow the employee to meet these religious obligations. This is likely to be your HR representative, but do check on that first. Professional Studies and Executive Education, American University's United Methodist Affiliation, submit an online request for reasonable religious accommodations. As I believe you are aware, I am a Seventh-day Adventist. I have been having medical issues that have affected my mood, sleep schedule, concentration, and focus. 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. 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. Whatever adjustments need to be made, you can count on me to do everything I can to cooperate fully. Find your nearest EEOC office Rising sophomores (Class of 2025): Thursday, March 3, 2022, Incoming students (Class of 2026 and transfer sophomores): TBD. There are also Kosher retail items available for purchase at theCharles Street Market (Char Mar). 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. Employee Flu Vaccine ExceptionRequests:Whenever possible, employees should submit vaccine exceptionrequests to OIE at least 30 days in advance of Johns Hopkins Medicine Compliance Deadlines and OIE will do its best to respond in a timely manner. 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. Questions #1-7: Basic Information Questions 1 - 7 require . A reasonable religious academic/workplace accommodation is a change in the academic/work environment or in the way academics, tasks or responsibilities are customarily done that enables a student orfaculty/staff[1]to participate in theirreligious practice or belief without undue hardship on the conduct of theUniversity's business or operation. For incoming students, a request must be made at the earliest possible opportunity after admission. 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. stream 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 After you complete your submission, you will receive automated responses and updates from the system as your documents or exception requests are processed by the John Hopkins Exception Review Team. I am writing this letter to submit a request for accommodations in the workplace. 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. Request for Religious Accommodation . Expand your toolbox with the tools and techniques needed to fix your organizations unique needs. 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. 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. University of Washington Religious Accommodations Policy. The University may suggest an alternative accommodation it deems reasonable to accommodate a request. Treat every employee's reasonable accommodation request as legitimate on its face. I am writing to request religious accommodation for my observance of Sabbath. Sample Accommodation Request Letter. Need help with a specific HR issue like coronavirus or FLSA? Consider the request. This includes people who belong to traditional, organized religions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism or Sikhism, as well as people who have newer or less common religious beliefs, and atheists. Religious Accommodation Request Template. (3) A request for the accommodation of religious practices may be granted in whole or in part. Recognizing a Religious Accommodation RequestThe Office of Institutional Equity ("OIE") receives and reviews all religious accommodation requests, including but not limited to vaccine exceptionrequests. A commander may require immediate compliance of an approved accommodation only under exigent circumstances and in furtherance of a compelling government interest due to operational necessity,. 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. A letter from a religious leader of the faith community to which the student is a member stating the need for an exemption. We have reviewed the attached case file and recommend action on SSgt Alpha's request for religious accommodation from compliance with Air Force grooming standards be deferred pending his imminent transfer of duty stations. if(currentUrl.indexOf("/about-shrm/pages/shrm-china.aspx") > -1) { Employers can request additional information when religious accommodations are requested, Bunting noted. 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. You are entitled to make this request, and your employer must make these accommodations based on the law of Equal Employment Opportunity. Always end a letter by thanking your employer for their kind consideration. Dear Sir, With utmost respect and honor, it is stated that I work at your renowned company under customer representative designation. 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. 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. 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. }\_e1~PyxxC|~t#;w#~0?Op|*h UAYIcW_}qWXz.fqw~zyW4iqCg+ty{%45&r4ZU PtYI}H{R=PRI^K$L*)W[XRdY\v 6jTl.e>A(SO>=q&>y$%\5/X1,oFfs5y4"]bu{HcO&9YEK~)1)r% m!xb11L kTIOrc~?(w4"9qoPA It is the policy of the University of Washington to reasonably accommodate students' religious observances in accordance with RCW 28B.137.010.. . Please confirm that you want to proceed with deleting bookmark. She had just been hired as a cashier at the fast-food restaurant. I would like to work with you to explore how I can meet the requirements of your course while still honoring my religious practice. The Interactive Process is the way in which employees, supervisors, and their departments arrive at a reasonable accommodation. Religious Accommodation Request - Template Back Top LockA locked padlock No attorney-client relationship is created by using the templates. Make a temporary accommodation while a permanent one is being arranged. Under the Equal Employment regulations, I am entitled to accommodations provided that they do not cause undue hardship to the company. Whenever possible, such requests should be submitted no less than 30 days in advance of the desired accommodation. When we met with you, we discussed what type of accommodation you . Submission of the completed form will be treated as a request for a disability accommodation and evaluated and decided under applicable Rehabilitation Act standards for reasonable accommodation absent undue hardship to the agency. I have pain in my lower back. 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. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. The University Chaplain will also consult with others related to the student's request. 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. 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). Edit your religious accommodation approval letter online Type text, add images, blackout confidential details, add comments, highlights and more. 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. I request Reasonable Accommodation to have {Company Name} {waive the requirement, provide a substitute, allow shift swap, etc.}. The University may request the student provide information to support the need for an accommodation based on the student's sincerely held religious belief. However, following receipt of the request, OIE will speak with a students faculty and/or student affairs representative, or an employees supervisor and/or department in order to further evaluate and/or implement the religious accommodation. Official websites use .gov var temp_style = document.createElement('style'); Site information is not to be replaced with or considered professional medical advice. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Subject: Assertion of Religious Exemption to Vaccination and Request for Accommodation. 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. *If you are a graduate student and the portal does not work for you, please contact Dining to be manually added. A religious accommodation is any adjustment to the work environment that will allow an employee or applicant to practice his or her religion. JAN provides free, confidential technical assistance about job accommodations and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). } Employee requests for religious accommodation at work are not always handled appropriately; take, for instance, Ashanti McShan's case. 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 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 the worker needs to be accommodated for religious reasons, judging its sincerity and, if determined to be sincere, granting the accommodation. One option that I would propose is [enter request]. 02. I have joined the office 5 months ago. State that you are a practicing member of a certain religion. Religious Accommodation Request Form A reasonable religious accommodation is a change in the work environment or in the way tasks or responsibilities are customarily done that enables an employee to participate in their religious practice or belief without undue hardship on the conduct of the university's business or operation. Religious Accommodation Request Resolution Employee (identified below) has requested an accommodation related to a religious belief, practice, and/or requirement. }); if($('.container-footer').length > 1){ As such, I am unable to {work on Sunday mornings, shave my beard, etc.}. Once OIE has all supporting documentation, it will strive for a 5 business day turnaround. 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. 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. 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.