religious accommodation request letter sample religious accommodation request letter sample

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. {Your Address} 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. An employer doesn't have to provide a religious accommodation if it poses an undue hardship to a business. However, unless the disability or the need for accommodation is obvious, it is the . 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; Religious Accommodation Request - Template Back Top Sabbath observance is so important to Adventists that it is part of our churchs name, i.e., Seventh-day.. 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. It is the policy of the University of Washington to reasonably accommodate students' religious observances in accordance with RCW 28B.137.010.. It's been wonderful working here, everyone is very supporting and company really acknowledges employees work. In order to establish the existence of a religious objection, it will be necessary for the individual to have specific religious beliefs which would be violated in a non-trivial way by receiving a particular vaccine. Explain that you would like an accommodation to allow you to practice your religion at work. Sign it in a few clicks employee-religious-exemption-november-2021 Download Vaccine Religious Exemption x][s} d =@_(3"I7ZqOnmY.=s@C`0NT6_w5_/O?a(Km~]Wy]]? Your session has expired. Ask your manager to meet with you. Subject: Religious Accommodation for [Course Number]. 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. Workplace distractions interfere with my concentration and focus so I would like to try noise cancelling headphones to minimize sound distractions. $('.container-footer').first().hide(); This is a matter of considerable importance and urgency to me. 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. Please note:To receive a religious accommodation, the religious observance must be one required by one's religious tradition. Professional Studies and Executive Education, American University's United Methodist Affiliation, submit an online request for reasonable religious accommodations. 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. 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. 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. A quick Q & A on religious exemptions. The University Chaplain will also consult with others related to the student's request. Would you please let me know in the next week? The first step in requesting an accommodation in the workplace is to decide how to make the request. The VMS will be accessible via the myJH portal when it goes live on July 1. 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. Washington, DC 20507 Your address Sitting or standing for long periods of time in the same position is causing increased pain and is decreasing my mobility. "Try your hardest to accommodate. (3) A request for the accommodation of religious practices may be granted in whole or in part. 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 . Make a temporary accommodation while a permanent one is being arranged. 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. You are encouraged to submit your request for accommodation ten (10) business days following implementation of the vaccination policy. (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. }\_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 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. 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. The description of the [modified/alternate] employment is as follows (include description of accommodation here): This is a temporary accommodation, not. Find your nearest EEOC office Date of Letter 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. Religious Accommodation Request Resolution Employee (identified below) has requested an accommodation related to a religious belief, practice, and/or requirement. The law requires that employees and employers engage in the Interactive Process. I have experienced an increase in fatigue, as well as eye irritation. Employee requests for religious accommodation at work are not always handled appropriately; take, for instance, Ashanti McShan's case. I would also be open to any other suggestions that you might have. 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. 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. 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. Your letter should be a formal one, addressed to the right person. 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. Your signature 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} As such, I am unable to {work on Sunday mornings, shave my beard, etc.}. Gain the intel you need now to successfully anticipate and navigate employment laws, stay compliant and mitigate legal risks. Please contact dining@jhu.edu or consult the Hopkins dining webpage if you have additional questions. if there are additional services at other times, or services offered on campus versus at a home congregation). $("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. Bunting noted that companies that previously placed employees on unpaid leave when they declined COVID-19 vaccinations for religious reasons are now bringing them back to the workplace. 1-844-234-5122 (ASL Video Phone), Call 1-800-669-4000 . var temp_style = document.createElement('style'); 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. Edit your religious accommodation approval letter online Type text, add images, blackout confidential details, add comments, highlights and more. 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. Housing operated by religious organizations and private clubs may limit occupancy to members as. I would like to request accommodations so that I might be able to perform my job effectively before my performance starts to suffer. In the meantime, they welcome feedback or questions from students who can reach them atdining@jhu.edu. For Academic accommodations requests, students should seek to make arrangements with the appropriate professors first at the earliest opportunity. 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. 3. 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. 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.. 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,. Unlike with disability accommodations, cost often may be a winning undue hardship argument for employers when religious accommodations are requested. More than 10,000 requests from across the Total Force have been received, of which approximately 2,100 have been disapproved due to military readiness considerations. Don't, for example, automatically laugh when an employee says he or she is a follower of the Jedi. For accommodation ideas by disability or limitation, visit JANs A to Z page. If there is more than one option, the student affairs representative or employer will balance a student oremployees expressed preference with operational or academic considerations.Religious accommodations can take many forms. Leading up to the holiday, Hopkins Dining will refine their planning and will distribute full details to students prior to the beginning of Ramadan. On [enter date or dates] we will be observing [name of holiday]. PO Box 81489 Middlesex, NJ 08 Fax Number: Your accommodation request will be reviewed by your . He has requested a schedule that would accommodate his religious observance of . The hiring manager had assured her that [] State that your request is not costly, inconvenient, or unsafe in any way, and should therefore be granted. info@eeoc.gov As I believe you are aware, I am a Seventh-day Adventist. (1) Observances of Worship and Holy Days. This includes accommodations you need during the COVID-19 pandemic to help you stay healthy and be able to work. Make sure, as well, that the letter does not contain any grammatical or spelling errors. I would like to request an exception based on my religious beliefs and practices. Please enable scripts and reload this page. 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. 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. document.head.append(temp_style); You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. % 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. State that you are a practicing member of a certain religion. Because many people still do not want to be vaccinated, a number of websites have . I do not wish to have a conflict between my job duties and my obligations to God. Kosher Meal Plans: The university offers severalKosher meal plan optionsthat can be used at the The Taam Tov section of theHopkins Cafe. 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. And, it is also for encouraging and enticing your clients to visit your place of business as well. Once an Airman or Guardian requests a vaccination exemption for religious reasons in writing to their commander, a chaplain is . Need help with a specific HR issue like coronavirus or FLSA? 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. var currentLocation = getCookie("SHRM_Core_CurrentUser_LocationID"); how the accommodation will help resolve the conflict between your religious beliefs or practices and a university policy, procedure, or other requirement. For example. 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). {Your Phone #} In addition, having a list of what I might need to do for the workday/week could also help me keep track of my work. You are exclusively responsible and bear all risks associated with any user-generated content you submit or read. $(document).ready(function () { For Deaf/Hard of Hearing callers: 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. how the accommodation will help resolve the conflict between your religious beliefs or practices and a university policy, procedure, or other academic requirement. Subject: Assertion of Religious Exemption to Vaccination and Request for Accommodation. Contact the University Chaplains Office only if there is a conflict in making the accommodations for a religious/cultural observance. Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on religion. 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. I am writing to request religious accommodation for my observance of Sabbath. Additional information may be requested if needed to evaluate the request. 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. Employers are supposed to start out with the assumption that the employee's religious belief is sincere. I am informed that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. Site information is not to be replaced with or considered professional medical advice. Your name Sincerely, In Exodus 20, the Bible commands us to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, and to refrain from work on that day. 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 Share sensitive A lock ( Any such request must be in a typed, legible, and double-sided letter. 1-800-669-6820 (TTY) You have successfully saved this page as a bookmark. 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. Describe what you expect this reasonable accommodation to be. Religious beliefs may exempt you from participating in certain functions or completing certain actions. When the economy is unstable, employers are faced with difficult decisions around staffing, pay and benefits. Examples of possible . } If an accommodation would violate a collective bargaining agreement, it would result in an undue hardship. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Any academic unit may issue additional or more specific information that is consistent with approved policy. Would you please let me know in the next week? Questions regarding applying for housing should be directed to Housing Operations at (410) 516-7960 or housing@jhu.edu. Recognizing a Religious Accommodation RequestThe Office of Institutional Equity ("OIE") receives and reviews all religious accommodation requests, including but not limited to vaccine exceptionrequests. 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. The Office of the University Chaplain has communicated to the faculty via the Provosts office a list of major religious holy days. The point of dedicating a page for accommodation requests is for your client to know your business more intimately like they know every inch of their personality. 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 you have questions or concerns, please contactoie@jhu.edu. University of Washington Religious Accommodations Policy. 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 . Under the Equal Employment regulations, I am entitled to accommodations provided that they do not cause undue hardship to the company. 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. 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. Explain that, under the doctrine of a certain belief in your religion, you cannot perform certain actions, such as shaving your beard or working on Sundays, for example. 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. {Your Loan #}. Bunting recalled one employee who claimed that being a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles was a religion and he needed Sundays off. However, the law does stipulate that the employer only has to conform if the accommodation will not cause the company any undue hardship. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Be aware of differences in state law. 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. It covers COVID-19 vaccine requirements and mandates, too. 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. 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. Although Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) do not require clergy letters to be submitted in order to obtain a religious accommodation to receiving . student affairs representatives, faculty, managers, and/or supervisors) who participated in the interactive process. a description of the accommodation you are requesting; the reason you need an accommodation; and. She had just been hired as a cashier at the fast-food restaurant. Please let me know if you need additional information or would like to discuss additional ideas. I have been having medical issues that have affected my mood, sleep schedule, concentration, and focus. Manager Responsibilities - Reasonable Accommodation Tips, 131 M Street, NE Your manager may not be familiar with your church, and the law doesn't require employers to have an encyclopedic knowledge of every religion. Sabbath Accommodation Request - Employee Letter DATE EMPLOYER NAME ADDRESS CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE RE: (YOUR NAME) Dear (NAME): I am writing to request religious accommodation for my observance of Sabbath. For 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. Please confirm that you want to proceed with deleting bookmark. Sample Email - Religious Accommodation Request. 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. Requests for accommodation should be made at the earliest opportunity once a student has become aware that a conflict exists. Students and employees must generally submit religious accommodation requests annually. I would like to request for accommodations to help decrease the pain caused by my back condition. I am writing this letter to submit a request for accommodations in the workplace. It was created to assist you while you are recovering. There are many types of accommodations. *If you are a graduate student and the portal does not work for you, please contact Dining to be manually added. 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. 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. (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. else if(currentUrl.indexOf("/about-shrm/pages/shrm-mena.aspx") > -1) { One option that I would propose is [enter request]. This letter is in reply to your request for accommodation approval. 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 am enrolled in your course [course number]. Staff with a medical, mental health, or developmental disability shall immediately contact their . 2000(e) requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation for employees religious observances. Always end a letter by thanking your employer for their kind consideration. 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. However, I cannot receive a COVID-19 vaccine because to do so would violate my sincerely held religious beliefs. If that effort fails or if the particular University office has questions, students may submit an online request for reasonable religious accommodations. Each request is individually reviewed by . To request permission for specific items, click on the reuse permissions button on the page where you find the item. If it impacts safety, the employer can also say no to the accommodation request, she said. 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. 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. Gathering InformationOIE asks students and employees to complete the religious accommodation request form. Whatever adjustments need to be made, you can count on me to do everything I can to cooperate fully. The Orthodox Union certifies the Kosher program and offers lunch and dinner Sundays through Thursdays and lunch on Fridays. 5. 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 . 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.