Examples of possible . Request for Religious Accommodation . In order to retain my integrity in Sabbath observance, it is important that I be allowed to leave work each Friday just prior to sunset. 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 OIE will then gather the necessary informationtoconsiderthe request. Permitting a student or employee to take a particular day or time period off for a religious holiday; Providing a student or employee with a time and place to pray. 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. 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. Don't, for example, automatically laugh when an employee says he or she is a follower of the Jedi. We have noticed that many brethren in Canada and elsewhere are facing the loss of employment for their unwillingness to comply with recent vaccine mandates in the workplace. Any such request must be in a typed, legible, and double-sided letter. These may prove helpful to consult. This includes accommodations you need during the COVID-19 pandemic to help you stay healthy and be able to work. For incoming students, a request must be made at the earliest possible opportunity after admission. 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. Employees may also request workplace adjustments based on other COVID-19 circumstances not related to being in the increased risk category. Leading up to the holiday, Hopkins Dining will refine their planning and will distribute full details to students prior to the beginning of Ramadan. Religious accommodations can take many forms. This template letter is not intended to give legal advice, but rather general legal information and serve as a general resource. 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. 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. Religious Accommodation Request Template. The Jedi religion is listed by the military as one of more than 200 religions it recognizes. This is false. 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. 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. 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. I am a Seventh-day Adventist, and I observe the Sabbath as a day of rest and worship from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. Be aware of differences in state law. As this would cause minimal burden for only minor {rescheduling, uniform changes, etc. General Information Catalog IT Policies, Standards, and Guidelines Writing A Hardship Letter To Social Security. However, I cannot receive a COVID-19 vaccine because to do so would violate my sincerely held religious beliefs. info@eeoc.gov 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. 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. {Your Address} 4. 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. Employees, as well as job applicants, may request a religious or reasonable accommodation from an employer requirement that conflicts with their sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances. I am writing this letter to submit a request for accommodations in the workplace. The Interactive Process can begin in a number of ways. 3. 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. % Explain that you would like an accommodation to allow you to practice your religion at work. You are entitled to make this request, and your employer must make these accommodations based on the law of Equal Employment Opportunity. 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. 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. [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. I will be very grateful if you could assist me in achieving a suitable schedule to avoid such a conflict. 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. Request for Accommodation of Religious Practice SAMPLE 1. 5. So you can pray. The interactive process starts when a student or employeesubmits a religious accommodation request. Your session has expired. The hiring manager had assured her that [] Whatever adjustments need to be made, you can count on me to do everything I can to cooperate fully. 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. I have been having medical issues that have affected my mood, sleep schedule, concentration, and focus. Your printed name. 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. Official websites use .gov Religious Accommodation Request - Template Back Top 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 . 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. Your address Gathering InformationOIE asks students and employees to complete the religious accommodation request form. Sabbath Accommodation Request - Employee Letter, Seventh-day Adventist Publications on Church - State Subjects. Thank you for your consideration and understanding in this matter. The policy guarantees that you are not unduly prevented from observing your religious practice; it does not necessarily guarantee the observance of that practice at a particular time or in a particular location (e.g. 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. Questions #1-7: Basic Information Questions 1 - 7 require . I have the interest of the company at heart. 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. 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. Financial Hardship Examples, Samples and Articles, Writing A Hardship Letter Religious Accommodation Discrimination, Writing A Hardship Letter Property Repairs. The Sabbath is sacred to me and I devote these hours to God. 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). WASHINGTON (AFNS) --. 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. 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. Subject: Assertion of Religious Exemption to Vaccination and Request for Accommodation. Employer's address. }); if($('.container-footer').length > 1){ There are also Kosher retail items available for purchase at theCharles Street Market (Char Mar). Document accommodations the employer tried to make and that the employee rejected. Please give this request consideration at your earliest convenience. religious accommodation is met with resentment and jealousy by co-workers it is still a viable solution. I would like to request for accommodations to help decrease the pain caused by my back condition. An employer must try to arrange to allow the employee to meet these religious obligations. In the meantime, they welcome feedback or questions from students who can reach them atdining@jhu.edu. This site contains User-Generated Content, meaning any and all information and content that a user submits to the Site. 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. 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. You have successfully saved this page as a bookmark. I look forward to hearing from you soon regarding this request. 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. . 1-844-234-5122 (ASL Video Phone), Call 1-800-669-4000 When we met with you, we discussed what type of accommodation you . 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. She had just been hired as a cashier at the fast-food restaurant. Kosher Meal Plans: The university offers severalKosher meal plan optionsthat can be used at the The Taam Tov section of theHopkins Cafe. If an accommodation would violate a collective bargaining agreement, it would result in an undue hardship. After initiating your religious objection request via the action center and returning the requested documentation, a representative from Employee and Labor Relations will respond to requests for religious exceptions from staff employees and Academic Personnel will respond to requests for religious exceptions from Faculty and other academic To request a religious accommodation: You must submit the Request for Religious Accommodation Form t o your Departmental HR Manager (DHRM) or their designee. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. For incoming students, a request must be made at the earliest possible opportunity after admission. 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.}. In addition, it . 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 . A religious accommodation is any adjustment to the work environment that will allow an employee or applicant to practice his or her religion. Staff with a medical, mental health, or developmental disability shall immediately contact their . An applicant or employee to practice or observe his or her religion. Need help with a specific HR issue like coronavirus or FLSA? 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. Would you please let me know in the next week? However, the law does stipulate that the employer only has to conform if the accommodation will not cause the company any undue hardship. 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. To help our brethren who may need support in writing a letter to establish a 'religious objection,' we have created a Religious Accommodation Request template that can be used and modified to suit individual circumstances. I am a Seventh-day Adventist, and I observe the Sabbath as a day of rest and worship from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. [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. else if(currentUrl.indexOf("/about-shrm/pages/shrm-mena.aspx") > -1) { Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to engage in an interactive process. Because many people still do not want to be vaccinated, a number of websites have . Make a temporary accommodation while a permanent one is being arranged. 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. 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Employees requesting a religious accommodation shall immediately contact their local Equal Employment Opportunity Coordinator. Please contact dining@jhu.edu or consult the Hopkins dining webpage if you have additional questions. 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. Your name a qualified individual with a disability to enjoy equal employment opportunities. }\_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 Once an Airman or Guardian requests a vaccination exemption for religious reasons in writing to their commander, a chaplain is . $("span.current-site").html("SHRM MENA "); 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. 1-800-669-6820 (TTY) 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. Ramadan Meal Options:Hopkins Dining is happy to add additional services and holiday specific menu items for students during Ramadan. Embed Request Forms in Your Site. For accommodation ideas by disability or limitation, visit JANs A to Z page. And, it is also for encouraging and enticing your clients to visit your place of business as well. 1-844-234-5122 (ASL Video Phone) University of Washington Religious Accommodations Policy. Each request is individually reviewed by . 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. This observance coincides with [name of assignment] that is listed on the syllabus. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter further at your convenience. Thank you for considering my request. A letter from a religious leader of the faith community to which the student is a member stating the need for an exemption. Examples of Accommodations We strive to be creative and flexible in arriving at a reasonable accommodation. 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. var currentUrl = window.location.href.toLowerCase(); Pursuant to DoDI 1300.17, Accommodation of 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. Sign it in a few clicks 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. When the economy is unstable, employers are faced with difficult decisions around staffing, pay and benefits. While Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 doesn't go as far as encompassing sports as a religion, the EEOC does define religions as including religious beliefs that are new or uncommon, not part of a formal church or sect, only subscribed to by a small number of people, or illogical or unreasonable to others. Sitting or standing for long periods of time in the same position is causing increased pain and is decreasing my mobility. Employee requests for religious accommodation at work are not always handled appropriately; take, for instance, Ashanti McShan's case. Build specialized knowledge and expand your influence by earning a SHRM Specialty Credential.