Learn how SHRM Certification can accelerate your career growth by earning a SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. This catalog is the document of authority for all students and includes undergraduate, graduate, law, and medical students. 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. Below I have included some possible ideas that could help at my workstation. It was created to assist you while you are recovering. 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. If an employer has tried everything else, unpaid leave is acceptable. The University may suggest an alternative accommodation it deems reasonable to accommodate a request. 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;}'; 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 . 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 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. 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 . That being said, you should write your exemption letter in your own words according . These may prove helpful to consult. I am writing to request religious accommodation for my observance of Sabbath. }); if($('.container-footer').length > 1){ I am a Seventh-day Adventist, and I observe the Sabbath as a day of rest and worship from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. Religious Accommodation Request - Template Back Top This template letter is not intended to give legal advice, but rather general legal information and serve as a general resource. The first step in requesting an accommodation in the workplace is to decide how to make the request. 2000(e) requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation for employees religious observances. Please let me know your decision at your earliest convenience. 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. Step 4. Sabbath Accommodation - Sundown Request - Employee Letter, Seventh-day Adventist Publications on Church - State Subjects. Sample Accommodation Request Letter. Once OIE has all supporting documentation, it will strive for a 5 business day turnaround. To request permission for specific items, click on the reuse permissions button on the page where you find the item. I would like to request an exception based on my religious beliefs and practices. The University may request the student provide information to support the need for an accommodation based on the student's sincerely held religious belief. 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 Department's reasonable accommodation policy is outlined within Personnel Bulletin 21-03 Processing Requests for Reasonable Accommodation for Individuals with Disabilities. 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 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. Given ongoing construction in our building and increased dust from it, my allergy symptoms have greatly increased. info@eeoc.gov 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. 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. Virtual & Washington, DC | February 26-28, 2023. I would like to work with you to explore how I can meet the requirements of your course while still honoring my religious practice. 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 . Ask your manager to meet with you. 1-844-234-5122 (ASL Video Phone), Call 1-800-669-4000 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. {Your Loan #}. A quick Q & A on religious exemptions. 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. An employer doesn't have to provide a religious accommodation if it poses an undue hardship to a business. 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. OIE will then gather the necessary informationtoconsiderthe request. Questions #1-7: Basic Information Questions 1 - 7 require . Recognizing a Religious Accommodation RequestThe Office of Institutional Equity ("OIE") receives and reviews all religious accommodation requests, including but not limited to vaccine exceptionrequests. 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. Erin Mulvaney. 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. 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 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. Your address Monitoring the Religious AccommodationBecause changes occur, student affairs representatives and employers may need to periodically check on the ongoing effectiveness of religious accommodations. Companies, however, have a leg up on public-sector employers when it comes to dealing with religious challenges to vaccine mandates. Additional information may be requested if needed to evaluate the request. 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. 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. Notice of Liability Sample Letter. Ramadan Meal Options:Hopkins Dining is happy to add additional services and holiday specific menu items for students during Ramadan. I would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation due to religious belief. An employee may 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. Embed Request Forms in Your Site. This site contains User-Generated Content, meaning any and all information and content that a user submits to the Site. Expand your toolbox with the tools and techniques needed to fix your organizations unique needs. 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; 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 . Treat every employee's reasonable accommodation request as legitimate on its face. 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,. She had just been hired as a cashier at the fast-food restaurant. 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. Ashanti McShan, a 17-year old high-school student, was excited about her first day of work at Burger King. Your letter should be a formal one, addressed to the right person. 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 . 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. To have your request for a religious academic/workplace accommodation considered, please review the following process: 1. Manager Responsibilities - Reasonable Accommodation Tips, 131 M Street, NE 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. 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. You can also download it, export it or print it out. Subject: Assertion of Religious Exemption to Vaccination and Request for Accommodation. 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. Whenever possible, such requests should be submitted no less than 30 days in advance of the desired accommodation. 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. 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. 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. Subject: Religious Accommodation for [Course Number]. WASHINGTON (AFNS) --. If it impacts safety, the employer can also say no to the accommodation request, she said. Please purchase a SHRM membership before saving bookmarks. Religious Exemption Letter. The sample letter linked contains false information such as: The COVID-19 vaccines are experimental gene therapy. 5. 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 Interactive Process can begin in a number of ways. Requests for accommodation should be made at the earliest opportunity once a student has become aware that a conflict exists. 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. Build specialized knowledge and expand your influence by earning a SHRM Specialty Credential. Find your nearest EEOC office Writing A Hardship Letter To Social Security. The law requires that employees and employers engage in the Interactive Process. [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. I am a Seventh-day Adventist, and I observe the Sabbath as a day of rest and worship from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. Please enable scripts and reload this page. I would like to request for accommodations to help decrease the pain caused by my back condition. Change employee to a shift or department that does not operate on Friday night or Saturday. 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 . SPOKANE, Wash - State employees required to get the COVID-19 vaccine now have a way to request religious and medical exemptions. The letter should make it clear that you are requesting reasonable accommodation in view of your religious beliefs. I am grateful for my job, and always strive to do my very best at work. 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. 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. The Jedi religion is listed by the military as one of more than 200 religions it recognizes. As we approach the winter months, however, the sun sets earlier than at present. 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. << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 5511 >> "Each of the manufactures of the Covid vaccines currently available developed and confirmed their vaccines using fetal cell lines, which originated from aborted fetuses. 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 . [Company Name] is committed to providing equal employment opportunities without regard to any protected status, and a work environment that . The Office of the University Chaplain has communicated to the faculty via the Provosts office a list of major religious holy days. Any such request must be in a typed, legible, and double-sided letter. 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. The accommodation [will begin or began] on [date] and end based upon future doctor visits. 1-800-669-6820 (TTY) It has become more difficult to breathe while in the office, even in my own personal office. employee-religious-exemption-november-2021 Download Vaccine Religious Exemption As such, I am unable to {work on Sunday mornings, shave my beard, etc.}. M`f"_qy7iSvvhBnq>!I+b"j0GL1Hy=3qIRrK{ 7\p% $K'@? < e/q[4T5iC`t`]fX`W_da(dk5 GadSh7(C/?. 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. 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. Official websites use .gov If the employer discovers the employee lied, then the employer has an additional factor to consider. 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. 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. Your signature JAN provides free, confidential technical assistance about job accommodations and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 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. 3. 1-800-669-6820 (TTY) 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. Your name Sample Email - Religious Accommodation Request. Dear Boss, First, I request a religious exemption. 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. Religious Accommodation Request Template. Be aware of differences in state law. The most effective way to monitor religious accommodations is to encourage ongoing communication.Religious accommodations remain in effect through the date included on the approval letter unless the student or employee is notified by the University of a change. Don't be afraid to gently question the sincerity of the religion. Religious accommodation is covered under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. What should I do if an applicant or employee asks for breaks, leave or other changes to a work situation because of his medical condition or his religious beliefs? A letter from a religious leader of the faith community to which the student is a member stating the need for an exemption. An employer that requires vaccinations against COVID-19 must grant sincere religious accommodation requests, so long as they. Financial Hardship Examples, Samples and Articles, Writing A Hardship Letter Religious Accommodation Discrimination, Writing A Hardship Letter Property Repairs. I have joined the office 5 months ago. The law protects people who have sincere religious, ethical or moral beliefs. Describe what you expect this reasonable accommodation to be. Request for Accommodation of Religious Practice SAMPLE 1. 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. Religious Accommodation Request Resolution Employee (identified below) has requested an accommodation related to a religious belief, practice, and/or requirement. I have pain in my lower back. 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. } I would also be open to any other suggestions that you might have. Thank you in advance for accommodating my request. Examples of possible . Any academic unit may issue additional or more specific information that is consistent with approved policy. Consider the request. And here is where the vaccine issue becomes even more complicated. Your session has expired. Attach a copy of the policy, highlighting the issue at hand. Employees may also request workplace adjustments based on other COVID-19 circumstances not related to being in the increased risk category. The University Chaplain will also consult with others related to the student's request. 02. Share sensitive The interactive process starts when a student or employeesubmits a religious accommodation request. 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. 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. (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. Explain that you would like an accommodation to allow you to practice your religion at work. {Your Phone #} 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. 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. Edit your religious accommodation approval letter online Type text, add images, blackout confidential details, add comments, highlights and more. Employee requests for religious accommodation at work are not always handled appropriately; take, for instance, Ashanti McShan's case. 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. If students are sabbath-observant, they must make this fact known to their professors for any course in which Saturday work is required. In some cases, OIE may need to obtain additional information and/or documentation about the student or employee's religious or spiritual practice(s) or belief(s). 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. 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. Questions regarding applying for housing should be directed to Housing Operations at (410) 516-7960 or housing@jhu.edu. Hence, your letter should also explain how your request will only pose a minor burden. Your printed name. 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. Sitting or standing for long periods of time in the same position is causing increased pain and is decreasing my mobility. Gain the intel you need now to successfully anticipate and navigate employment laws, stay compliant and mitigate legal risks. 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. 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 Orthodox Union certifies the Kosher program and offers lunch and dinner Sundays through Thursdays and lunch on Fridays. Each request is individually reviewed by . However, unless the disability or the need for accommodation is obvious, it is the . Kosher Meal Plans: The university offers severalKosher meal plan optionsthat can be used at the The Taam Tov section of theHopkins Cafe. 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. The Sabbath is sacred to me and I devote these hours to God. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. (1) Observances of Worship and Holy Days. 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. var temp_style = document.createElement('style'); Please note that accommodation requests received past the deadline will not be considered until afterhousing assignments are determined. 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. %PDF-1.3 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.
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