}\_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 } 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. 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. There is no public health emergency. temp_style.textContent = '.ms-rtestate-field > p:first-child.is-empty.d-none, .ms-rtestate-field > .fltter .is-empty.d-none, .ZWSC-cleaned.is-empty.d-none {display:block !important;}'; c. Types of Accommodation Requests. 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 To request permission for specific items, click on the reuse permissions button on the page where you find the item. And here is where the vaccine issue becomes even more complicated. Make sure, as well, that the letter does not contain any grammatical or spelling errors. Questions #1-7: Basic Information Questions 1 - 7 require . Whenever possible, such requests should be submitted no less than 30 days in advance of the desired accommodation. Make sure that you make it very clear what it is that you cannot comply with and why. {Your Phone #} Religious Accommodation Request - Template Back Top . Staff with a medical, mental health, or developmental disability shall immediately contact their . An official website of the United States government. a qualified individual with a disability to enjoy equal employment opportunities. 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. $("span.current-site").html("SHRM MENA "); Work a flexible schedule so that the employee can leave the job on Friday afternoon before sundown, to permit time to travel home before Sabbath begins. Erin Mulvaney. Be courteous and professional and show that you are willing to meet your employer halfway. Implementing the Religious Accommodation 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. Attach a copy of the policy, highlighting the issue at hand. 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. The University may request the student provide information to support the need for an accommodation based on the student's sincerely held religious belief. So you can pray. This observance coincides with [name of assignment] that is listed on the syllabus. I am grateful for my job, and always strive to do my very best at work. Employees may also request workplace adjustments based on other COVID-19 circumstances not related to being in the increased risk category. Hence, you will need to write a hardship letter religious accommodation discrimination. The first step is to request an accommodation. 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. 1-800-669-6820 (TTY) 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 . For incoming students, a request must be made at the earliest possible opportunity after admission. However, I cannot receive a COVID-19 vaccine because to do so would violate my sincerely held religious beliefs. var currentUrl = window.location.href.toLowerCase(); I am informed that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 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. Please note:To receive a religious accommodation, the religious observance must be one required by one's religious tradition. I am writing to request religious accommodation for my observance of Sabbath. 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. {Your Address} [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. << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 5511 >> A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. In the meantime, they welcome feedback or questions from students who can reach them atdining@jhu.edu. Please enable scripts and reload this page. There are many types of accommodations. I would like to request accommodations so that I might be able to perform my job effectively before my performance starts to suffer. When we met with you, we discussed what type of accommodation you . 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. Virtual & Washington, DC | February 26-28, 2023. (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. Always end a letter by thanking your employer for their kind consideration. Your manager may not be familiar with your church, and the law doesn't require employers to have an encyclopedic knowledge of every religion. 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. As we approach the winter months, however, the sun sets earlier than at present. I look forward to hearing from you soon regarding this request. 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. Ask your manager to meet with you. Click the link TO DOWNLOAD A RAMADAN RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS REQUEST TEMPLATE. 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 . Once an Airman or Guardian requests a vaccination exemption for religious reasons in writing to their commander, a chaplain is . Change employee to a shift or department that does not operate on Friday night or Saturday. Members may download one copy of our sample forms and templates for your personal use within your organization. Please purchase a SHRM membership before saving bookmarks. (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 it impacts safety, the employer can also say no to the accommodation request, she said. 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 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. Financial Hardship Examples, Samples and Articles, Writing A Hardship Letter Religious Accommodation Discrimination, Writing A Hardship Letter Property Repairs. 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. T hank you for considering my request. 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. SAMPLE REQUEST FOR RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION [EMPLOYMENT] Dear [HR Department]: [Employer] has directed me to get vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine, or suffer adverse employment action, up to and including termination. 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. 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. I have the interest of the company at heart. 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. On [enter date or dates] we will be observing [name of holiday]. 2000(e) requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation for employees religious observances. [Company name] (the Company) has engaged in good faith written and/or oral communications 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 . 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. As such, I am unable to {work on Sunday mornings, shave my beard, etc.}. 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. If the employer discovers the employee lied, then the employer has an additional factor to consider. 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. I would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation due to religious belief. 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. The purpose of an accommodation request is to allow the requesting employee to perform certain job duties, either in their current role or in a position they are seeking. 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. Scheduling accommodations may involve: 1. a description of the accommodation you are requesting; the reason you need an accommodation; and. Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on religion. Date of Letter Religious Exemption letter. Learn how SHRM Certification can accelerate your career growth by earning a SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. Make accommodation policies clear, and apply them equally even if the employer has never heard of the religion. Please let me know if you need additional information or would like to discuss additional ideas. General Information Catalog IT Policies, Standards, and Guidelines 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. Religious accommodation requests require a written statement, via the CDCR Form 2273, Request for Religious Accommodation, indicating the individual's sincerely-held religious belief that precludes them from receiving any COVID-19 vaccine. A request for a religious accommodation for housing must be made before housing is requested. Because many people still do not want to be vaccinated, a number of websites have . Each request is individually reviewed by . 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. Find the latest news and members-only resources that can help employers navigate in an uncertain economy. Any academic unit may issue additional or more specific information that is consistent with approved policy. } The law protects people who have sincere religious, ethical or moral beliefs. stream A lock ( 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. 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. Must an . 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. One option that I would propose is [enter request]. $("span.current-site").html("SHRM China "); Accordingly, employers should treat religious exemption requests with care and consistency, as a matter of law and respect for your employees.Requesting a religious exemption is not a free pass, though. In addition, it . If the student does not belong to a religious community that could provide this letter,the student should indicate this in their letter and request a letter from the University Chaplain after due consultation with the University Chaplain. 4. In most cases, students should seek to make arrangements with the appropriate University office first, contacting professors, residential life, or dining services. If employees have submitted a request for reasonable or religious accommodation due to the inability to comply with mandatory testing, they may request permission to remain off work, using their own leave credits or . if(currentUrl.indexOf("/about-shrm/pages/shrm-china.aspx") > -1) { For instance, if you are unable to work on a Sunday, offer to work on a different unpopular shift instead, so that your colleagues are not disproportionately disadvantaged by your request either. Dear Boss, First, I request a religious exemption. Please note that accommodation requests received past the deadline will not be considered until afterhousing assignments are determined. I would also be open to any other suggestions that you might have. }); if($('.container-footer').length > 1){ The University Chaplain will also consult with others related to the student's request. Site information is not to be replaced with or considered professional medical advice. Send religious accommodation letter sample via email, link, or fax. 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. Employee requests for religious accommodation at work are not always handled appropriately; take, for instance, Ashanti McShan's case. Explain that you would like an accommodation to allow you to practice your religion at work. Dear Sir, With utmost respect and honor, it is stated that I work at your renowned company under customer representative designation. 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. I have been having medical issues that have affected my mood, sleep schedule, concentration, and focus. You are entitled to make this request, and your employer must make these accommodations based on the law of Equal Employment Opportunity. 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. Employers are supposed to start out with the assumption that the employee's religious belief is sincere. Train managers to recognize religious exemption requests and to refer them to HR. The Interactive Process is the way in which employees, supervisors, and their departments arrive at a reasonable accommodation. Workplace distractions interfere with my concentration and focus so I would like to try noise cancelling headphones to minimize sound distractions. State that you are a practicing member of a certain religion. As I believe you are aware, I am a Seventh-day Adventist. If students are sabbath-observant, they must make this fact known to their professors for any course in which Saturday work is required. Your letter should be a formal one, addressed to the right person. Employees requesting a religious accommodation shall immediately contact their local Equal Employment Opportunity Coordinator. 3. Recognizing a Religious Accommodation RequestThe Office of Institutional Equity ("OIE") receives and reviews all religious accommodation requests, including but not limited to vaccine exceptionrequests. Writing A Hardship Letter To Social Security. 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. Sign it in a few clicks I have joined the office 5 months ago. 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. Once OIE has all supporting documentation, it will strive for a 5 business day turnaround. 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. WASHINGTON (AFNS) --. Expand your toolbox with the tools and techniques needed to fix your organizations unique needs. I am a Seventh-day Adventist, and I observe the Sabbath as a day of rest and worship from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. 4. Sabbath Accommodation Request - Employee Letter, Seventh-day Adventist Publications on Church - State Subjects. The sample letter linked contains false information such as: The COVID-19 vaccines are experimental gene therapy. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Religious Accommodation Request Resolution Employee (identified below) has requested an accommodation related to a religious belief, practice, and/or requirement. A letter from a religious leader of the faith community to which the student is a member stating the need for an exemption. Build specialized knowledge and expand your influence by earning a SHRM Specialty Credential. The Orthodox Union certifies the Kosher program and offers lunch and dinner Sundays through Thursdays and lunch on Fridays. Your printed name. Second, the religious belief must be "sincerely held" to be entitled to accommodation. 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. 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). I am enrolled in your course [course number]. 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. Religious accommodation is covered under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 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. 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. nd OIE will do its best to respond in a timely manner. 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. For instance, you may ask for a shift swap, provide a substitute, or ask them to waive the requirement in full. Requests for religious accommodations must be assessed on a case-by-case basis, considering the unique facts; the nature of the requested religious accommodation; the effect of approval or denial on the Service member's exercise of religion; and the effect of approval or denial on mission accomplishment, including unit cohesion. Please log in as a SHRM member before saving bookmarks. Housing operated by religious organizations and private clubs may limit occupancy to members as. 5. Work on Sunday or holidays in place of Saturday. Ashanti McShan, a 17-year old high-school student, was excited about her first day of work at Burger King. Some examples include: 4. 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 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. Hence, your letter should also explain how your request will only pose a minor burden. 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. 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. % The Justice Centre does not have a standard template to address such individual beliefs. 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. 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. You should consult an attorney for legal advice specific to your . You are exclusively responsible and bear all risks associated with any user-generated content you submit or read. 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. 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. Avoid application of punitive leave policies. However, the law does stipulate that the employer only has to conform if the accommodation will not cause the company any undue hardship. a permanent position. You are encouraged to submit your request for accommodation ten (10) business days following implementation of the vaccination policy. SPOKANE, Wash - State employees required to get the COVID-19 vaccine now have a way to request religious and medical exemptions. Request for Religious Accommodation . Would you please let me know in the next week? Sitting or standing for long periods of time in the same position is causing increased pain and is decreasing my mobility. An employer that requires vaccinations against COVID-19 must grant sincere religious accommodation requests, so long as they. 5. *If you are a graduate student and the portal does not work for you, please contact Dining to be manually added. Students and employees must generally submit religious accommodation requests annually. An employer doesn't have to provide a religious accommodation if it poses an undue hardship to a business. Once OIE has all supporting documentation, it will strive for a 5 business day turnaround. 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. Request for Accommodation of Religious Practice SAMPLE 1. 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,. 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. employee-religious-exemption-november-2021 Download Vaccine Religious Exemption [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. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter further at your convenience. Companies, however, have a leg up on public-sector employers when it comes to dealing with religious challenges to vaccine mandates. var temp_style = document.createElement('style'); For incoming students, a request must be made at the earliest possible opportunity after admission. Requests for accommodation should be made at the earliest opportunity once a student has become aware that a conflict exists. I am writing this letter to submit a request for accommodations in the workplace. 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. %PDF-1.3 Don't be afraid to gently question the sincerity of the religion. 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. Sincerely, Therefore, the individual making the request must be "qualified", meaning the employee is able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without a reasonable . I have pain in my lower back. I am (mention your name) on behalf of (mention company name) and would like to say that, the department provider's letter you submitted to us on [mention date] stated that you have the following work problem. Questions regarding applying for housing should be directed to Housing Operations at (410) 516-7960 or housing@jhu.edu. An applicant or employee to practice or observe his or her religion. If an employer has tried everything else, unpaid leave is acceptable. Examples of Accommodations We strive to be creative and flexible in arriving at a reasonable accommodation. $(document).ready(function () { As this would cause minimal burden for only minor {rescheduling, uniform changes, etc. 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.