Please give this request consideration at your earliest convenience. Employees may also request workplace adjustments based on other COVID-19 circumstances not related to being in the increased risk category. Gathering InformationOIE asks students and employees to complete the religious accommodation request form. However, I cannot receive a COVID-19 vaccine because to do so would violate my sincerely held religious beliefs. I would also be open to any other suggestions that you might have. 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. In an effort to meet individual students needs, Housing Operations will work directly with the Office of Institutional Equity and the Office of Religious & Spiritual Life for assigning students who are approved for religion-based housing accommodations.To request a religious-based housing accommodation, students should submit the Homewood Campus: University Housing Religious Accommodation Request Form to the Office of Institutional Equity by the following deadlines based on their class. The Orthodox Union certifies the Kosher program and offers lunch and dinner Sundays through Thursdays and lunch on Fridays. A reasonable religious academic/workplace accommodation is a change in the academic/work environment or in the way academics, tasks or responsibilities are customarily done that enables a student orfaculty/staff[1]to participate in theirreligious practice or belief without undue hardship on the conduct of theUniversity's business or operation. Need help with a specific HR issue like coronavirus or FLSA? 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. 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 . On [enter date or dates] we will be observing [name of holiday]. *If you are a graduate student and the portal does not work for you, please contact Dining to be manually added. Dear Boss, First, I request a religious exemption. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. I have pain in my lower back. Sitting or standing for long periods of time in the same position is causing increased pain and is decreasing my mobility. c. Types of Accommodation Requests. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. LockA locked padlock On [enter date or dates] we will be observing [name of holiday]. The interactive process starts when a student or employeesubmits a religious accommodation request. << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 5511 >> {Your Phone #} The University Chaplain will also consult with others related to the student's request. Expand your toolbox with the tools and techniques needed to fix your organizations unique needs. It has become more difficult to breathe while in the office, even in my own personal office. The Interactive Process is the way in which employees, supervisors, and their departments arrive at a reasonable accommodation. Employers are supposed to start out with the assumption that the employee's religious belief is sincere. I am a practicing member of {Religion}. This observance coincides with [name of assignment] that is listed on the syllabus. 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. It is the policy of the University of Washington to reasonably accommodate students' religious observances in accordance with RCW 28B.137.010.. 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. 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 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. 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. Find the latest news and members-only resources that can help employers navigate in an uncertain economy. Send religious accommodation letter sample via email, link, or fax. The Department of the Air Force is processing a number of Religious Accommodation Requests for the COVID-19 vaccine. You are exclusively responsible and bear all risks associated with any user-generated content you submit or read. document.head.append(temp_style); You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Each request is individually reviewed by . Religious Accommodation Request - Template Back Top 4. A quick Q & A on religious exemptions. When we met with you, we discussed what type of accommodation you . T hank you for considering my request. 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He has requested a schedule that would accommodate his religious observance of . 02. PO Box 81489 Middlesex, NJ 08 Fax Number: Your accommodation request will be reviewed by your . Unlike with disability accommodations, cost often may be a winning undue hardship argument for employers when religious accommodations are requested. 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. Your signature how the accommodation will help resolve the conflict between your religious beliefs or practices and a university policy, procedure, or other requirement. If it impacts safety, the employer can also say no to the accommodation request, she said. However, the law does stipulate that the employer only has to conform if the accommodation will not cause the company any undue hardship. 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. Click the link TO DOWNLOAD A RAMADAN RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS REQUEST TEMPLATE. Governor Jay Inslee is requiring thousands of employees to get . An employer that requires vaccinations against COVID-19 must grant sincere religious accommodation requests, so long as they. Religious Accommodation Request Form A reasonable religious accommodation is a change in the work environment or in the way tasks or responsibilities are customarily done that enables an employee to participate in their religious practice or belief without undue hardship on the conduct of the university's business or operation. 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. One option that I would propose is [enter request]. For instance, state that there is a company policy in place that requires you to do certain things that are not acceptable within your religion. [Company Name] is committed to providing equal employment opportunities without regard to any protected status, and a work environment that . 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. Your printed name. how the accommodation will help resolve the conflict between your religious beliefs or practices and a university policy, procedure, or other academic requirement. 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. The VMS will be accessible via the myJH portal when it goes live on July 1. Hence, your letter should also explain how your request will only pose a minor burden. 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. 1-800-669-6820 (TTY)
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 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. Subject: Assertion of Religious Exemption to Vaccination and Request for 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. Homewood Housing Requests:The university recognizes that student observance of their faith may require special consideration for housing assignments. information only on official, secure websites. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Treat every employee's reasonable accommodation request as legitimate on its face. 3 0 obj Religious Exemption Letter. 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. Second, the religious belief must be "sincerely held" to be entitled to accommodation. I would like to request an exception based on my religious beliefs and practices. An employer must try to arrange to allow the employee to meet these religious obligations. Employer's name 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. 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. M`f"_qy7iSvvhBnq>!I+b"j0GL1Hy=3qIRrK{ 7\p%
$K'@? < e/q[4T5iC`t`]fX`W_da(dk5 GadSh7(C/?. Members can get help with HR questions via phone, chat or email. Embed Request Forms in Your Site. Employer's address. 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. University of Washington Religious Accommodations Policy. Ask your manager to meet with you. Additional information may be requested if needed to evaluate the request. Be aware of differences in state law. For example. This letter is in reply to your request for accommodation approval. Explain that you would like an accommodation to allow you to practice your religion at work. 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. Sample Hardship Letter Financial Hardship Letters Writing A Hardship Letter Religious Accommodation Discrimination. This is a matter of considerable importance and urgency to me. For incoming students, a request must 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. As this would cause minimal burden for only minor {rescheduling, uniform changes, etc. Thank you for your consideration and understanding in this matter. It covers COVID-19 vaccine requirements and mandates, too. Students and employees must generally submit religious accommodation requests annually. The other employees may wind up leaving due to the extra workload. else if(currentUrl.indexOf("/about-shrm/pages/shrm-mena.aspx") > -1) {
Housing operated by religious organizations and private clubs may limit occupancy to members as. 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. Please purchase a SHRM membership before saving bookmarks. Although a manager may consider it reasonable to permit me to have, say, every other Saturday off work, this would not actually accommodate my belief, since I cannot work on any Sabbath. Some examples include: 4. Examples of Accommodations We strive to be creative and flexible in arriving at a reasonable accommodation. Official websites use .gov 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. 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. 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. It is your responsibility to make sure your employer has received the letter, and it is your responsibility to follow it up to make sure that your requested changes have been made. 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. 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. 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. In Washington, the exemption approval process is largely left up to individual departments to approve exemptions and provide accommodations, and it could . "Try your hardest to accommodate. Step 4. Other objective reasons that the employer has to believe the requested accommodation isn't being sought for religious reasons. (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. 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. 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. General Information Catalog IT Policies, Standards, and Guidelines 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. The Department's reasonable accommodation policy is outlined within Personnel Bulletin 21-03 Processing Requests for Reasonable Accommodation for Individuals with Disabilities. Any such request must be in a typed, legible, and double-sided letter. Religious accommodations can take many forms. 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,. Your manager may not be familiar with your church, and the law doesn't require employers to have an encyclopedic knowledge of every religion. As such, I am unable to {work on Sunday mornings, shave my beard, etc.}. 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. 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. 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. The first step is to request an accommodation. I would like to request accommodations so that I might be able to perform my job effectively before my performance starts to suffer. stream 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 . }
Under the Equal Employment regulations, I am entitled to accommodations provided that they do not cause undue hardship to the company. var currentUrl = window.location.href.toLowerCase();
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. Submission of the completed form will be treated as a request for a disability accommodation and evaluated and decided under applicable Rehabilitation Act standards for reasonable accommodation absent undue hardship to the agency. All content available on or through samplehardshipletter.org is for general information purposes only. 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. I do not wish to have a conflict between my job duties and my obligations to God. 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. 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;}';
Your address A religious accommodation is any adjustment to the work environment that will allow an employee or applicant to practice his or her religion.
State that your request is not costly, inconvenient, or unsafe in any way, and should therefore be granted. Please log in as a SHRM member before saving bookmarks. I am grateful for my job, and always strive to do my very best at work. 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. 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 law protects people who have sincere religious, ethical or moral beliefs. 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. I am writing this letter to submit a request for accommodations in the workplace. 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. For Deaf/Hard of Hearing callers:
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. And, it is also for encouraging and enticing your clients to visit your place of business as well. Recognizing a Religious Accommodation RequestThe Office of Institutional Equity ("OIE") receives and reviews all religious accommodation requests, including but not limited to vaccine exceptionrequests. CO/OICs will accommodate . Don't, for example, automatically laugh when an employee says he or she is a follower of the Jedi. 3. I have been having medical issues that have affected my mood, sleep schedule, concentration, and focus. A request for a religious accommodation for housing must be made before housing is requested. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. WASHINGTON (AFNS) --. For instance, you may ask for a shift swap, provide a substitute, or ask them to waive the requirement in full. 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. Employers can request additional information when religious accommodations are requested, Bunting noted. The University may request the student provide information to support the need for an accommodation based on the student's sincerely held religious belief. 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. 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. Be courteous and professional and show that you are willing to meet your employer halfway. $("span.current-site").html("SHRM China ");
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The University may suggest an alternative accommodation it deems reasonable to accommodate a request. 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. The Justice Centre does not have a standard template to address such individual beliefs. 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). Because many people still do not want to be vaccinated, a number of websites have . Please enable scripts and reload this page. 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 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). Site information is not to be replaced with or considered professional medical advice. The Office of the University Chaplain has communicated to the faculty via the Provosts office a list of major religious holy days. Whenever possible, such requests should be submitted no less than 30 days in advance of the desired accommodation. Would you please let me know in the next week? Hence, you will need to write a hardship letter religious accommodation discrimination. 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. Please contact dining@jhu.edu or consult the Hopkins dining webpage if you have additional questions. And here is where the vaccine issue becomes even more complicated. Religious Exemption letter. 2000(e) requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation for employees religious observances. Train managers to recognize religious exemption requests and to refer them to HR. Please note:To receive a religious accommodation, the religious observance must be one required by one's religious tradition. For incoming students, a request must be made at the earliest possible opportunity after admission. As I believe you are aware, I am a Seventh-day Adventist. 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. 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. 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. Work on Sunday or holidays in place of Saturday. This catalog is the document of authority for all students and includes undergraduate, graduate, law, and medical students. Given ongoing construction in our building and increased dust from it, my allergy symptoms have greatly increased. {Your Address} 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. Avoid application of punitive leave policies. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 01. religious accommodation is met with resentment and jealousy by co-workers it is still a viable solution. 1-844-234-5122 (ASL Video Phone)
Subject: Religious Accommodation for [Course Number].
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