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. "Try your hardest to accommodate. 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. Some examples include: 4. 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. Religious Exemption Letter. 3 0 obj I am a practicing member of {Religion}. 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. Each request is individually reviewed by . The interactive process starts when a student or employeesubmits a religious accommodation request. } So you can pray. 1-800-669-6820 (TTY) Below I have included some possible ideas that could help at my workstation. In the meantime, they welcome feedback or questions from students who can reach them atdining@jhu.edu. 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. 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. 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. << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 5511 >> Must an . Don't be afraid to gently question the sincerity of the religion. Be aware of differences in state law. "Each of the manufactures of the Covid vaccines currently available developed and confirmed their vaccines using fetal cell lines, which originated from aborted fetuses. 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. 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. I often suggest employees consider making a written request so they can decide what to say and how to say it without the stress of a face-to-face meeting with their employer. Sample Accommodation Request Letter: Allergies Date of Letter Your name Your address Employer's name Employer's address Dear [Insert employer's name here]: Given ongoing construction in our building and increased dust from it, my allergy symptoms have greatly increased. 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. 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 . 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. Thank you for your consideration and understanding in this matter. 02. According to new guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), employers can push back when there is: HR may speak with supervisors and inquire about whether the person talks about religion at work or has ever asked for specific days off. I would like to request accommodations so that I might be able to perform my job effectively before my performance starts to suffer. 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. 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. Need help with a specific HR issue like coronavirus or FLSA? Inconsistent behavior with the professed belief. I have pain in my lower back. T hank you for considering my request. Describe what you expect this reasonable accommodation to be. For example. 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. It is the policy of the University of Washington to reasonably accommodate students' religious observances in accordance with RCW 28B.137.010.. I would also be open to any other suggestions that you might have. how the accommodation will help resolve the conflict between your religious beliefs or practices and a university policy, procedure, or other requirement. Official websites use .gov Your manager may not be familiar with your church, and the law doesn't require employers to have an encyclopedic knowledge of every religion. Kosher Meal Plans: The university offers severalKosher meal plan optionsthat can be used at the The Taam Tov section of theHopkins Cafe. Leading up to the holiday, Hopkins Dining will refine their planning and will distribute full details to students prior to the beginning of Ramadan. Attach a copy of the policy, highlighting the issue at hand. Expand your toolbox with the tools and techniques needed to fix your organizations unique needs. For instance, you may ask for a shift swap, provide a substitute, or ask them to waive the requirement in full. 3. 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. A final thing to remember is that, as stated, while it is your right to have these accommodations made where possible, you must formally request them. Employees may also request workplace adjustments based on other COVID-19 circumstances not related to being in the increased risk category. It's been wonderful working here, everyone is very supporting and company really acknowledges employees work. An official website of the United States government. Questions regarding applying for housing should be directed to Housing Operations at (410) 516-7960 or housing@jhu.edu. A quick Q & A on religious exemptions. 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. Notice of Liability Sample Letter. 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. Governor Jay Inslee is requiring thousands of employees to get . 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. 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. This letter is in reply to your request for accommodation approval. Please log in as a SHRM member before saving bookmarks. Embed Request Forms in Your Site. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. *If you are a graduate student and the portal does not work for you, please contact Dining to be manually added. Model Letter: Requesting Religious Accommodation in the Face of COVID-19 Vaccine Workplace Mandate For good or bad, COVID-19 has changed the way we navigate the world and the way in which "we the people" exercise our rights. Please contact dining@jhu.edu or consult the Hopkins dining webpage if you have additional questions. 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. 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 . 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; Erin Mulvaney. It covers COVID-19 vaccine requirements and mandates, too. 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 . No attorney-client relationship is created by using the templates. Religious beliefs are one freedom protected in the workplace by Title VII of the US Civil Rights Act of 1964. 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. 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 . 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. For Deaf/Hard of Hearing callers: Subject: Assertion of Religious Exemption to Vaccination and Request for Accommodation. All content available on or through samplehardshipletter.org is for general information purposes only. 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. Your name Make a temporary accommodation while a permanent one is being arranged. That being said, you should write your exemption letter in your own words according . Sample Email - Religious Accommodation Request. Hiring and Staffing Dept. I am enrolled in your course [course number]. The first step is to request an accommodation. The accommodation [will begin or began] on [date] and end based upon future doctor visits. 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. When we met with you, we discussed what type of accommodation you . 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. When the economy is unstable, employers are faced with difficult decisions around staffing, pay and benefits. To have your request for a religious academic/workplace accommodation considered, please review the following process: 1. Employer's name Your letter should be a formal one, addressed to the right person. I am a Seventh-day Adventist, and I observe the Sabbath as a day of rest and worship from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. OIE may need to discuss the nature of the religious belief(s, practice(s), and accommodation(s) with a student or employee's spiritual leader (if applicable) or religious or philosophy scholars to address the request for an exception. 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. 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. 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. For Academic accommodations requests, students should seek to make arrangements with the appropriate professors first at the earliest opportunity. If an employer has tried everything else, unpaid leave is acceptable. Build specialized knowledge and expand your influence by earning a SHRM Specialty Credential. Employer's address. You have successfully saved this page as a bookmark. c. Types of Accommodation Requests. You are exclusively responsible and bear all risks associated with any user-generated content you submit or read. Document accommodations the employer tried to make and that the employee rejected. 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. Examples of Accommodations We strive to be creative and flexible in arriving at a reasonable accommodation. However, the law does stipulate that the employer only has to conform if the accommodation will not cause the company any undue hardship. An employee may 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. 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. The hiring manager had assured her that [] If there are any other ideas or options that you could provide it would be greatly appreciated. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. This form asks for information on the specific religious belief or conviction - whether religious, spiritual, or philosophical - that is the basis of the request, as well as the requestedaccommodation or modification to policy, practice, or schedule. Reasonable religious accommodation requests will be made on a casebycase basis taking into account factors including but not limited to: nature of the accommodation requested; duration of the request; timeliness of the request; alternative accommodations; financial impact; academic impact; and other related factors. 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. 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. Your printed name. 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. $("span.current-site").html("SHRM MENA "); Bunting recalled one employee who claimed that being a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles was a religion and he needed Sundays off. The Orthodox Union certifies the Kosher program and offers lunch and dinner Sundays through Thursdays and lunch on Fridays. 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. Any such request must be in a typed, legible, and double-sided letter. 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. Sample Accommodation Request Letter. Sitting or standing for long periods of time in the same position is causing increased pain and is decreasing my mobility. Companies, however, have a leg up on public-sector employers when it comes to dealing with religious challenges to vaccine mandates. {Your Name} Make sure that you make it very clear what it is that you cannot comply with and why. 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. 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. 3. This is a matter of considerable importance and urgency to me. Recognizing a Religious Accommodation RequestThe Office of Institutional Equity ("OIE") receives and reviews all religious accommodation requests, including but not limited to vaccine exceptionrequests. {Your Phone #} Sabbath Accommodation Request - Employee Letter, Seventh-day Adventist Publications on Church - State Subjects. A request for a religious accommodation for housing must be made before housing is requested. Since our company operates on the basis of a five-day workweek, Monday through Friday, there has not been any problem in my work schedule regarding having the hours of the Sabbath off. 01. For accommodation ideas by disability or limitation, visit JANs A to Z page. 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. Please enable scripts and reload this page. I would like to request for accommodations to help decrease the pain caused by my back condition. Subject: Religious Accommodation for [Course Number]. The other employees may wind up leaving due to the extra workload. a qualified individual with a disability to enjoy equal employment opportunities. There are also Kosher retail items available for purchase at theCharles Street Market (Char Mar). Hence, your letter should also explain how your request will only pose a minor burden. However, the rules do stipulate that you must make requests for certain accommodations based on your religious beliefs. a description of the accommodation you are requesting; the reason you need an accommodation; and. 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. Please note:To receive a religious accommodation, the religious observance must be one required by one's religious tradition. He has requested a schedule that would accommodate his religious observance of . Manager Responsibilities - Reasonable Accommodation Tips, 131 M Street, NE Sabbath observance is so important to Adventists that it is part of our churchs name, i.e., Seventh-day.. Employee requests for religious accommodation at work are not always handled appropriately; take, for instance, Ashanti McShan's case. information only on official, secure websites. JAN provides free, confidential technical assistance about job accommodations and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 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. {Your Address} if(currentUrl.indexOf("/about-shrm/pages/shrm-china.aspx") > -1) { An applicant or employee to practice or observe his or her religion. University of Washington Religious Accommodations Policy. Dear Professor [last name], I am enrolled in your course [course number]. var currentUrl = window.location.href.toLowerCase(); Virtual & Washington, DC | February 26-28, 2023. She had just been hired as a cashier at the fast-food restaurant. The Sabbath is sacred to me and I devote these hours to God. An applicant or employee may need a reasonable accommodation (a change to the way things are normally done at work) so he can practice or observe his religion. This catalog is the document of authority for all students and includes undergraduate, graduate, law, and medical students. (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. SPOKANE, Wash - State employees required to get the COVID-19 vaccine now have a way to request religious and medical exemptions. 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. If it would be easier, I would be happy to talk with you about this further in person or by phone. Financial Hardship Examples, Samples and Articles, Writing A Hardship Letter Religious Accommodation Discrimination, Writing A Hardship Letter Property Repairs. Your signature If accommodation is easy, do it," said Kelly Dobbs Bunting, an attorney with Greenberg Traurig in Philadelphia, speaking at the SHRM Employment Law & Compliance Conference 2022on March 30 in Washington, D.C. 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. [Company name] (the Company) has engaged in good faith written and/or oral communications An employer must try to arrange to allow the employee to meet these religious obligations. An employer that requires vaccinations against COVID-19 must grant sincere religious accommodation requests, so long as they. State that you are a practicing member of a certain religion. 1-844-234-5122 (ASL Video Phone) Avoid application of punitive leave policies. I have joined the office 5 months ago. Second, the religious belief must be "sincerely held" to be entitled to accommodation. In some cases, OIE may need to obtain additional information and/or documentation about the student or employee's religious or spiritual practice(s) or belief(s). In Exodus 20, the Bible commands us to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, and to refrain from work on that day. In Washington, the exemption approval process is largely left up to individual departments to approve exemptions and provide accommodations, and it could . For that reason, I am requesting a religious accommodation, under Title VII and any similar [state where employer located] state law (s), that will excuse me from having to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, and further request that no adverse employment action be taken against me on account of my religious beliefs. I do not wish to have a conflict between my job duties and my obligations to God. First-Year Residential Students Living on Campus: You can sign up for a kosher meal plan while registering for housing the summer before you arrive on campus.Second-Year Resident Students Living in McCoyor Charles Commons: You can sign up for a kosher meal plan while registering for housing the spring of your first year.Second-year Residential Students Living in Homewood Apartments, Bradford, or Rogerss House: You can sign up for a kosher meal plan while registering for housing the spring of your first year or by signing up for meal plans on theHousing Portal.Upperclassmen and Off-Campus Students: You can enroll for a Kosher meal plan on theHousing Portal by logging in with your JHED. Send religious accommodation letter sample via email, link, or fax. Writing A Hardship Letter To Social Security. 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. I would like to work with you to explore how I can meet the requirements of your course while still honoring my religious practice. $('.container-footer').first().hide(); Please give this request consideration at your earliest convenience. If that effort fails or if the particular University office has questions, students may submit an online request for reasonable religious accommodations. Please let me know your decision at your earliest convenience. As such, I am unable to {work on Sunday mornings, shave my beard, etc.}. Because many people still do not want to be vaccinated, a number of websites have . Employers can request additional information when religious accommodations are requested, Bunting noted. Housing operated by religious organizations and private clubs may limit occupancy to members as. Sample Hardship Letter Financial Hardship Letters Writing A Hardship Letter Religious Accommodation Discrimination. 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. Scheduling accommodations may involve: 1. You can also download it, export it or print it out. 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. Train managers to recognize religious exemption requests and to refer them to HR. 5. Based on that, state that you are now requesting for Reasonable Accommodation to be made within your company. This is likely to be your HR representative, but do check on that first. Once an Airman or Guardian requests a vaccination exemption for religious reasons in writing to their commander, a chaplain is . 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. This isn't really a religious request, so the employer can push back and request a letter from a faith leader, she said. Religious beliefs may exempt you from participating in certain functions or completing certain actions. Members can get help with HR questions via phone, chat or email. 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. Once OIE has all supporting documentation, it will strive for a 5 business day turnaround. Questions #1-7: Basic Information Questions 1 - 7 require . [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.
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