(1) Observances of Worship and Holy Days. Sample Hardship Letter Financial Hardship Letters Writing A Hardship Letter Religious Accommodation Discrimination. The Sabbath is sacred to me and I devote these hours to God. I am grateful for my job, and always strive to do my very best at work. The sample letter linked contains false information such as: The COVID-19 vaccines are experimental gene therapy. That being said, you should write your exemption letter in your own words according . Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on religion. I am (mention your name) on behalf of (mention company name) and would like to say that, the department provider's letter you submitted to us on [mention date] stated that you have the following work problem. nd OIE will do its best to respond in a timely manner. On [enter date or dates] we will be observing [name of holiday]. PDF Mandatory Employee COVID-19 Testing and Non-Compliance - CDCR Make sure that you make it very clear what it is that you cannot comply with and why. 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. Because many people still do not want to be vaccinated, a number of websites have . Religious Exemption letter. The other employees may wind up leaving due to the extra workload. For Airmen seeking a religious accommodation request, chaplains play a critical role in ensuring each request is fully considered in accordance with DAFI 52-201, Religious Freedom in the Department of the Air Force. Sign it in a few clicks LockA locked padlock Religious Exemption Letter. 1/9/2019 Employer Address City, State, Zip Code RE: Accommodation for Religious Belief and Practice Dear (HR Person's Name): I am writing this letter on behalf of your employee, xxxxxx, who is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He has requested a schedule that would accommodate his religious observance of . I am writing to request religious accommodation for my observance of Sabbath. However, the law does stipulate that the employer only has to conform if the accommodation will not cause the company any undue hardship. 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. I request Reasonable Accommodation to have {Company Name} {waive the requirement, provide a substitute, allow shift swap, etc.}. The University may request the student provide information to support the need for an accommodation based on the student's sincerely held religious belief. But for employees who need more ideas, the following examples offer additional guidance about how to communicate the need for an accommodation for various types of medical conditions. Rising sophomores (Class of 2025): Thursday, March 3, 2022, Incoming students (Class of 2026 and transfer sophomores): TBD. 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. Leading up to the holiday, Hopkins Dining will refine their planning and will distribute full details to students prior to the beginning of Ramadan. A 'Get Out of Masking Free' Card Based on the ADA? PDF Manager Workplace Religious Accommodation Toolkit: }, I believe that such a request would not be unsafe, inconvenient, or costly. 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. {Your Address} Religious Covid Vaccine Objections Can Come From 'Church of One' information only on official, secure websites. {Your Loan #}. Official websites use .gov 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. Religious beliefs may exempt you from participating in certain functions or completing certain actions. 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. The interactive process starts when a student or employeesubmits a religious accommodation request. You are entitled to make this request, and your employer must make these accommodations based on the law of Equal Employment Opportunity. Be courteous and professional and show that you are willing to meet your employer halfway. 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. Site information is not to be replaced with or considered professional medical advice. 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. if(currentUrl.indexOf("/about-shrm/pages/shrm-china.aspx") > -1) { A Template for the "Request for a Religious Exemption to the COVID-19 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. I will be very grateful if you could assist me in achieving a suitable schedule to avoid such a conflict. Some examples include: 4. Questions #1-7: Basic Information Questions 1 - 7 require . Expand your toolbox with the tools and techniques needed to fix your organizations unique needs. An employer must try to arrange to allow the employee to meet these religious obligations. EEOC Clarifies Religious Exemptions to Covid-19 Vaccine Mandates - JD Supra 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. Sample Request for Religious Accommodation [Employment] SPOKANE, Wash - State employees required to get the COVID-19 vaccine now have a way to request religious and medical exemptions. 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. } % 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). Pursuant to DoDI 1300.17, Accommodation of OIE will then gather the necessary informationtoconsiderthe request. PDF SAMPLE REQUEST FOR RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION [STUDENT] - Liberty Counsel No attorney-client relationship is created by using the templates. Request for Religious Accommodation - American University Build specialized knowledge and expand your influence by earning a SHRM Specialty Credential. 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. Please contact dining@jhu.edu or consult the Hopkins dining webpage if you have additional questions. PDF Religious Accommodation in the Workplace - adl.org The Interactive Process is the way in which employees, supervisors, and their departments arrive at a reasonable accommodation. As this would cause minimal burden for only minor {rescheduling, uniform changes, etc. Once an Airman or Guardian requests a vaccination exemption for religious reasons in writing to their commander, a chaplain is . Make accommodation policies clear, and apply them equally even if the employer has never heard of the religion. "Try your hardest to accommodate. Religious Accommodations - Johns Hopkins University 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 . Employers can't demand clergy notes for flu shot exemptions, feds say }); if($('.container-footer').length > 1){ I welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter further at your convenience. An employer doesn't have to provide a religious accommodation if it poses an undue hardship to a business. I have joined the office 5 months ago. Below I have included some possible ideas that could help at my workstation. 5. 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. If there are any other ideas or options that you could provide it would be greatly appreciated. Step 4. else if(currentUrl.indexOf("/about-shrm/pages/shrm-mena.aspx") > -1) { For accommodation ideas by disability or limitation, visit JANs A to Z page. As you consider these examples, you may find it helpful to review How to Disclose a Disability and Request Accommodations in the Workplace on JANs page for Individuals, which also provides more information about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Financial Hardship Examples, Samples and Articles, Writing A Hardship Letter Religious Accommodation Discrimination, Writing A Hardship Letter Property Repairs. A letter from a religious leader of the faith community to which the student is a member stating the need for an exemption. How to Request a Covid-19 Vaccine Exception Thank you for your consideration and understanding in this matter. The accommodation [will begin or began] on [date] and end based upon future doctor visits. Whatever adjustments need to be made, you can count on me to do everything I can to cooperate fully. Virtual & Washington, DC | February 26-28, 2023. Once OIE has all supporting documentation, it will strive for a 5 business day turnaround. You are exclusively responsible and bear all risks associated with any user-generated content you submit or read. I would like to request for accommodations to help decrease the pain caused by my back condition. Examples of possible . If it would be easier, I would be happy to talk with you about this further in person or by phone. This is likely to be your HR representative, but do check on that first. %PDF-1.3 [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. 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 . 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. To request a religious accommodation: You must submit the Request for Religious Accommodation Form t o your Departmental HR Manager (DHRM) or their designee. 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. However, unless the disability or the need for accommodation is obvious, it is the . (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. document.head.append(temp_style); You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. When the economy is unstable, employers are faced with difficult decisions around staffing, pay and benefits. Don't, for example, automatically laugh when an employee says he or she is a follower of the Jedi. Covid Vaccine: Laws, Rights and Exemptions - Stop Wrongful Convictions University of Washington Religious Accommodations Policy. Religious accommodation requests: What to expect Your address 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. 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. Thank you for considering my request. Requesting a Religious Accommodation For Work | Nolo However, following receipt of the request, OIE will speak with a students faculty and/or student affairs representative, or an employees supervisor and/or department in order to further evaluate and/or implement the religious accommodation. In most cases, students should seek to make arrangements with the appropriate University office first, contacting professors, residential life, or dining services. Questions regarding applying for housing should be directed to Housing Operations at (410) 516-7960 or housing@jhu.edu. 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; I would also be open to any other suggestions that you might have. Employers are supposed to start out with the assumption that the employee's religious belief is sincere. I look forward to hearing from you soon regarding this request. 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. {Your Phone #} Once OIE has all supporting documentation, it will strive for a 5 business day turnaround. }\_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 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. *If you are a graduate student and the portal does not work for you, please contact Dining to be manually added. To have your request for a religious academic/workplace accommodation considered, please review the following process: 1. 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. 4. Additional information may be requested if needed to evaluate the request. 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. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to engage in an interactive process. Covid Shot Religious Exemption Template Provided to Employers if there are additional services at other times, or services offered on campus versus at a home congregation). How to Respond to a Request for a Religious Accommodation 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. 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. In addition, it . 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. 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. JAN provides free, confidential technical assistance about job accommodations and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 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. Your name 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. 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. 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. A lock ( 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. 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. 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. I am a Seventh-day Adventist, and I observe the Sabbath as a day of rest and worship from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. DOC Reasonable Accommodation Agreement - sample letter For Deaf/Hard of Hearing callers: 1-844-234-5122 (ASL Video Phone), Call 1-800-669-4000 Religious Discrimination and Accommodation in the Federal Workplace Sabbath Accommodation - Sundown Request - Employee Letter - Church State 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. Hiring and Staffing Dept. T hank you for considering my request. The University Chaplain will also consult with others related to the student's request. 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. What really counts as a religious exemption to the COVID-19 vaccine This is a matter of considerable importance and urgency to me. info@eeoc.gov It has become more difficult to breathe while in the office, even in my own personal office. I am writing this letter to submit a request for accommodations in the workplace. 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. 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. 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. General Information Catalog IT Policies, Standards, and Guidelines 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. 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. 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. Employees requesting a religious accommodation shall immediately contact their local Equal Employment Opportunity Coordinator. 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. Describe what you expect this reasonable accommodation to be. State that your request is not costly, inconvenient, or unsafe in any way, and should therefore be granted. 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. The first step is to request an accommodation. The Department's reasonable accommodation policy is outlined within Personnel Bulletin 21-03 Processing Requests for Reasonable Accommodation for Individuals with Disabilities. This template letter is not intended to give legal advice, but rather general legal information and serve as a general resource. Secular activitiesshopping, sports, employment, and entertainmentare laid aside. How to Push Back on Religious Accommodation Requests - SHRM Sabbath observance is so important to Adventists that it is part of our churchs name, i.e., Seventh-day.. 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. PO Box 81489 Middlesex, NJ 08 Fax Number: Your accommodation request will be reviewed by your . var temp_style = document.createElement('style'); 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. 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 . Companies, however, have a leg up on public-sector employers when it comes to dealing with religious challenges to vaccine mandates. She had just been hired as a cashier at the fast-food restaurant. Sabbath Accommodation - Sundown Request - Employee Letter, Seventh-day Adventist Publications on Church - State Subjects. The law requires that employees and employers engage in the Interactive Process. Employer's name To request permission for specific items, click on the reuse permissions button on the page where you find the item. 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 . 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.