religious accommodation request letter sample religious accommodation request letter sample

It's been wonderful working here, everyone is very supporting and company really acknowledges employees work. } 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. Subject: Religious Accommodation for [Course Number]. 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. 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. Dear Boss, First, I request a religious exemption. 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. You have successfully saved this page as a bookmark. 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 . Bunting recalled one employee who claimed that being a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles was a religion and he needed Sundays off. Would you please let me know in the next week? As a starting point, JAN offers general guidance about writing an accommodation request letter, which lays out possible elements to include in the body of the letter. Ths request should include relevant information such as: Once a request is submitted, the University Chaplain will initiate an interactive process to determine if the request can be accommodated as requested and, if not, what, if any, alternative arrangements can be made. And here is where the vaccine issue becomes even more complicated. The hiring manager had assured her that [] Need help with a specific HR issue like coronavirus or FLSA? Subject: Assertion of Religious Exemption to Vaccination and Request for Accommodation. Unlike with disability accommodations, cost often may be a winning undue hardship argument for employers when religious accommodations are requested. Please let me know your decision at your earliest convenience. 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. [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. 4. 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. I do not wish to have a conflict between my job duties and my obligations to God. a qualified individual with a disability to enjoy equal employment opportunities. {Your Loan #}. If you have questions or concerns, please contact, Whenever possible, employees should submit vaccine exceptionrequests to OIE at least 30 days in advance of, Johns Hopkins Medicine Compliance Deadlines. You 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. 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;}'; 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. 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,. Religious accommodation is covered under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 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. The other employees may wind up leaving due to the extra workload. In addition, it . Employees requesting a religious accommodation shall immediately contact their local Equal Employment Opportunity Coordinator. Make a temporary accommodation while a permanent one is being arranged. The law requires that employees and employers engage in the Interactive Process. Ask your manager to meet with you. 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. Erin Mulvaney. 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. Please give this request consideration at your earliest convenience. 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 is a matter of considerable importance and urgency to me. Attach a copy of the policy, highlighting the issue at hand. University of Washington Religious Accommodations Policy. "Each of the manufactures of the Covid vaccines currently available developed and confirmed their vaccines using fetal cell lines, which originated from aborted fetuses. 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. He has requested a schedule that would accommodate his religious observance of . Train managers to recognize religious exemption requests and to refer them to HR. if(currentUrl.indexOf("/about-shrm/pages/shrm-china.aspx") > -1) { Would you please let me know in the next week? Professional Studies and Executive Education, American University's United Methodist Affiliation, submit an online request for reasonable religious accommodations. (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 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. Explain that you would like an accommodation to allow you to practice your religion at work. Housing operated by religious organizations and private clubs may limit occupancy to members as. Employer's address. Request for Religious Accommodation . 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. Step 4. A letter from a religious leader of the faith community to which the student is a member stating the need for an exemption. The first step is to request an accommodation. 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. A request for a religious accommodation for housing must be made before housing is requested. For accommodation ideas by disability or limitation, visit JANs A to Z page. It is the policy of the University of Washington to reasonably accommodate students' religious observances in accordance with RCW 28B.137.010.. Any such request must be in a typed, legible, and double-sided letter. The Justice Centre does not have a standard template to address such individual beliefs. 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. $('.container-footer').first().hide(); 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 . In Washington, the exemption approval process is largely left up to individual departments to approve exemptions and provide accommodations, and it could . Hence, your letter should also explain how your request will only pose a minor burden. When May an Employer Reject a Religious Accommodation Request? Particular considerations for different accommodation types include: A request for a religious accommodation for housing must be made before housing is requested. 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 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. 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. 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. Inconsistent behavior with the professed belief. 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. I am informed that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 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. The University Chaplain will also consult with others related to the student's request. However, unless the disability or the need for accommodation is obvious, it is the . Please purchase a SHRM membership before saving bookmarks. employee-religious-exemption-november-2021 Download Vaccine Religious Exemption Manager Responsibilities - Reasonable Accommodation Tips, 131 M Street, NE 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. Your session has expired. 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. (3) A request for the accommodation of religious practices may be granted in whole or in part. Questions #1-7: Basic Information Questions 1 - 7 require . If that effort fails or if the particular University office has questions, students may submit an online request for reasonable religious accommodations. However, writing such an initial request can feel intimidating and employees can get nervous about what to include in the letter and how to word it. For religious exemptions toimmunization requirements, students should submit along with their requests: Please email your request, your letter to President Burwell, andaletter from a leader of your faith community (or a request for consultation with the University Chaplain)to president@american.edu. 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 . Date of Letter If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. 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. 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 . It has become more difficult to breathe while in the office, even in my own personal office. I request Reasonable Accommodation to have {Company Name} {waive the requirement, provide a substitute, allow shift swap, etc.}. I am a practicing member of {Religion}. Build specialized knowledge and expand your influence by earning a SHRM Specialty Credential. Should you have any questions about the reasoning or observance of this [name of religious holiday], please feel free to contact Hierald Osorto, Director of Religious and Spiritual Life, at hosorto@ithaca.edu. If 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 Vaccine Management System (VMS) that will launch on July 1, 2021. 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. 4. This site contains User-Generated Content, meaning any and all information and content that a user submits to the Site. {Your Address} I welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter further at your convenience. No attorney-client relationship is created by using the templates. if there are additional services at other times, or services offered on campus versus at a home congregation). 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. 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. I have joined the office 5 months ago. 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. 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 letter should make it clear that you are requesting reasonable accommodation in view of your religious beliefs. else if(currentUrl.indexOf("/about-shrm/pages/shrm-mena.aspx") > -1) { 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. 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. 3. Avoid application of punitive leave policies. 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. % 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. (1) Observances of Worship and Holy Days. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Thank you for your consideration and understanding in this matter. The extent to which an employer must accommodate an employees religious objection to taking a vaccine will be dependent on the specific circumstances of the employment.. Please note that accommodation requests received past the deadline will not be considered until afterhousing assignments are determined. General Information Catalog IT Policies, Standards, and Guidelines Sincerely, . Members can get help with HR questions via phone, chat or email. } 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.