Employers can request additional information when religious accommodations are requested, Bunting noted. 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. After initiating your religious objection request via the action center and returning the requested documentation, a representative from Employee and Labor Relations will respond to requests for religious exceptions from staff employees and Academic Personnel will respond to requests for religious exceptions from Faculty and other academic 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). 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). A quick Q & A on religious exemptions. The Sabbath is sacred to me and I devote these hours to God. This letter is in reply to your request for accommodation approval. (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. Students are required to check their course syllabi at the beginning of the semester, make any conflicts with religious/cultural observances known to their professors, and discuss arrangements for missed classes or assignments. 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. Religious Exemption Letter - Refusal of Covid-19 Vaccination Religious Discrimination and Accommodation in the Federal Workplace x][s} d =@_(3"I7ZqOnmY.=s@C`0NT6_w5_/O?a(Km~]Wy]]? Pursuant to DoDI 1300.17, Accommodation of 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. (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. PDF Model Letter: Requesting Religious Accommodation in the - Rutherford 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 . 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. The hiring manager had assured her that [] Hence, you will need to write a hardship letter religious accommodation discrimination. Notice of Liability Sample Letter. 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. 3 0 obj . Learn how SHRM Certification can accelerate your career growth by earning a SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. If that effort fails or if the particular University office has questions, students may submit an online request for reasonable religious accommodations. Religious Accommodation Request Resolution Employee (identified below) has requested an accommodation related to a religious belief, practice, and/or requirement. I would like to request for accommodations to help decrease the pain caused by my back condition. It covers COVID-19 vaccine requirements and mandates, too. 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. Ramadan Meal Options:Hopkins Dining is happy to add additional services and holiday specific menu items for students during Ramadan. Dear Professor [last name], I am enrolled in your course [course number]. There is no public health emergency. The interactive process starts when a student or employeesubmits a religious accommodation request. 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 . Sabbath observance is so important to Adventists that it is part of our churchs name, i.e., Seventh-day.. The Department's reasonable accommodation policy is outlined within Personnel Bulletin 21-03 Processing Requests for Reasonable Accommodation for Individuals with Disabilities. student affairs representatives, faculty, managers, and/or supervisors) who participated in the interactive process. 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. For accommodation ideas by disability or limitation, visit JANs A to Z page. If it would be easier, I would be happy to talk with you about this further in person or by phone. Scheduling accommodations may involve: 1. 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(currentUrl.indexOf("/about-shrm/pages/shrm-china.aspx") > -1) { Governor Jay Inslee is requiring thousands of employees to get . Robert Barnes provides employer letter example for vaccine mandate An official website of the United States government. 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. Sample Request for Religious Exemption from COVID-19 Vaccination Policy Each request is individually reviewed by . When May an Employer Reject a Religious Accommodation Request? The Justice Centre does not have a standard template to address such individual beliefs. 1-844-234-5122 (ASL Video Phone) PDF SAMPLE REQUEST FOR RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION [STUDENT] - Liberty Counsel OpJAGAF 2019-9, 21 March 2019, Religious Accommodation Request-Norse 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. Bunting recalled one employee who claimed that being a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles was a religion and he needed Sundays off. [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. 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. As we approach the winter months, however, the sun sets earlier than at present. Religious Accommodation and Vaccine Mandate Guidance Updates You are entitled to make this request, and your employer must make these accommodations based on the law of Equal Employment Opportunity. PDF Religious Accommodation in the Workplace - adl.org Share sensitive 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. $(document).ready(function () { However, the law does stipulate that the employer only has to conform if the accommodation will not cause the company any undue hardship. (3) A request for the accommodation of religious practices may be granted in whole or in part. Rising sophomores (Class of 2025): Thursday, March 3, 2022, Incoming students (Class of 2026 and transfer sophomores): TBD. Please note:To receive a religious accommodation, the religious observance must be one required by one's religious tradition. 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 . Sabbath Accommodation Request - Employee Letter - Church State However, I cannot receive a COVID-19 vaccine because to do so would violate my sincerely held religious beliefs. T hank you for considering my request. The Office of the University Chaplain has communicated to the faculty via the Provosts office a list of major religious holy days. 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. 3. 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. An employer doesn't have to provide a religious accommodation if it poses an undue hardship to a business. At JAN, I often discuss options with employees about what might be useful to include and how to clearly explain what accommodation is needed. All content available on or through samplehardshipletter.org is for general information purposes only. No attorney-client relationship is created by using the templates. 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. Consider the request. }, I believe that such a request would not be unsafe, inconvenient, or costly. Requesting a Religious Accommodation For Work | Nolo The Department of the Air Force is processing a number of Religious Accommodation Requests for the COVID-19 vaccine. How to Request a Covid-19 Vaccine Exception Your printed name. 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; 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. On [enter date or dates] we will be observing [name of holiday]. 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. 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. Please let me know if you need additional information or would like to discuss additional ideas. Inconsistent behavior with the professed belief. 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. *If you are a graduate student and the portal does not work for you, please contact Dining to be manually added. 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,. 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. This catalog is the document of authority for all students and includes undergraduate, graduate, law, and medical students. How to Respond to a Request for a Religious Accommodation Particular considerations for different accommodation types include: A request for a religious accommodation for housing must be made before housing is requested. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 4. It's been wonderful working here, everyone is very supporting and company really acknowledges employees work. A Template for the "Request for a Religious Exemption to the COVID-19 Contact the University Chaplains Office only if there is a conflict in making the accommodations for a religious/cultural observance. Kosher Meal Plans: The university offers severalKosher meal plan optionsthat can be used at the The Taam Tov section of theHopkins Cafe. Below is a guide with suggestions and sample answers to help you complete your COVID vaccine religious exemption request using the Department of Defense 'DD 3177 Religious Exemption Form' along with notes to help you avoid the obvious "pitfalls" weaved into this document to undermine your ability to obtain a religious exemption. 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. For example, if someone wants to wear long, loose-fitting religious attire near a bagel slicer, the employer might decline the request, but try to find another position for the worker away from the bagel slicer. Step 4. Any such request must be in a typed, legible, and double-sided letter. 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. Need help with a specific HR issue like coronavirus or FLSA? nd 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 requirement. Ask your manager to meet with you. 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. Make sure that you make it very clear what it is that you cannot comply with and why. a permanent position. Sample Language for Accommodation Request Letters - AskJAN.org 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. Please give this request consideration at your earliest convenience. Process to request religious accommodations for vaccine mandate now Companies, however, have a leg up on public-sector employers when it comes to dealing with religious challenges to vaccine mandates. Please contact [email protected] or consult the Hopkins dining webpage if you have additional questions. Questions #1-7: Basic Information Questions 1 - 7 require . 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. As this would cause minimal burden for only minor {rescheduling, uniform changes, etc. 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. Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination and Non - COVID-19 Information $("span.current-site").html("SHRM MENA "); Sample Hardship Letter Financial Hardship Letters Writing A Hardship Letter Religious Accommodation Discrimination. Some examples include: 4. Change employee to a shift or department that does not operate on Friday night or Saturday. Find the latest news and members-only resources that can help employers navigate in an uncertain economy. Permitting a student or employee to take a particular day or time period off for a religious holiday; Providing a student or employee with a time and place to pray. The Orthodox Union certifies the Kosher program and offers lunch and dinner Sundays through Thursdays and lunch on Fridays. Manager Responsibilities - Reasonable Accommodation Tips, 131 M Street, NE PDF Request for A Medical Exception to The Covid-19 Vaccination - Dhs In order to retain my integrity in Sabbath observance, it is important that I be allowed to leave work each Friday just prior to sunset. Vaccination accommodation: Is that religious request sincere? And here is where the vaccine issue becomes even more complicated. I request Reasonable Accommodation to have {Company Name} {waive the requirement, provide a substitute, allow shift swap, etc.}. As such, I am unable to {work on Sunday mornings, shave my beard, etc.}. temp_style.textContent = '.ms-rtestate-field > p:first-child.is-empty.d-none, .ms-rtestate-field > .fltter .is-empty.d-none, .ZWSC-cleaned.is-empty.d-none {display:block !important;}'; Religious accommodation is covered under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. According to new guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), employers can push back when there is: HR may speak with supervisors and inquire about whether the person talks about religion at work or has ever asked for specific days off. Washington, DC 20507 }\_e1~PyxxC|~t#;w#~0?Op|*h UAYIcW_}qWXz.fqw~zyW4iqCg+ty{%45&r4ZU PtYI}H{R=PRI^K$L*)W[XRdY\v 6jTl.e>A(SO>=q&>y$%\5/X1,oFfs5y4"]bu{HcO&9YEK~)1)r% m!xb11L kTIOrc~?(w4"9qoPA Whatever adjustments need to be made, you can count on me to do everything I can to cooperate fully. 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. PDF Manager Workplace Religious Accommodation Toolkit: This site contains User-Generated Content, meaning any and all information and content that a user submits to the Site. Once an Airman or Guardian requests a vaccination exemption for religious reasons in writing to their commander, a chaplain is . She had just been hired as a cashier at the fast-food restaurant. 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. Don't, for example, automatically laugh when an employee says he or she is a follower of the Jedi. In addition, it . 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. Responding to Employee Accommodation Requests under the ADA: Navigating You are encouraged to submit your request for accommodation ten (10) business days following implementation of the vaccination policy. "Each of the manufactures of the Covid vaccines currently available developed and confirmed their vaccines using fetal cell lines, which originated from aborted fetuses. Ashanti McShan, a 17-year old high-school student, was excited about her first day of work at Burger King. To request permission for specific items, click on the reuse permissions button on the page where you find the item. 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. Sample Email - Religious Accommodation Request | Ithaca College var currentLocation = getCookie("SHRM_Core_CurrentUser_LocationID"); A 'Get Out of Masking Free' Card Based on the ADA? The University may suggest an alternative accommodation it deems reasonable to accommodate a request. 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. 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. 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. Leading up to the holiday, Hopkins Dining will refine their planning and will distribute full details to students prior to the beginning of Ramadan. Religious Covid Vaccine Objections Can Come From 'Church of One' However, the rules do stipulate that you must make requests for certain accommodations based on your religious beliefs. {Your Loan #}. } 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. 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 . Know Your Rights: How To Request a Religious Accommodation for COVID-19 When May an Employer Reject a Religious Accommodation Request? - SHRM 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. 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. I am a Seventh-day Adventist, and I observe the Sabbath as a day of rest and worship from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. 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 that accommodation requests received past the deadline will not be considered until afterhousing assignments are determined. 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. 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. 10 Examples of Religious Exemption Requests for Covid-19 Vaccines PO Box 81489 Middlesex, NJ 08 Fax Number: Your accommodation request will be reviewed by your . Staff with a medical, mental health, or developmental disability shall immediately contact their . Religious accommodation letter: Fill out & sign online | DocHub Responding to Requests for Religious Exemptions from COVID-19 Please log in as a SHRM member. Religious Accommodations Policy - Office of the University Registrar DOC Reasonable Accommodation Agreement - sample letter Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on religion. EEOC Clarifies Religious Exemptions to Covid-19 Vaccine Mandates - JD Supra For incoming students, a request must be made at the earliest possible opportunity after admission.