Religious Discrimination and Accommodation in the Federal Workplace 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. [1] Faculty/staff are hereafter referred to as employee(s).[2] Students who cannot take a quiz, test, or final exam on a scheduled date due to a religious observance must inform OIE of any conflicts before the semesters add/drop deadline, or as soon as possible after a particular assignment or examination date is announced. In addition, it . Members can get help with HR questions via phone, chat or email. (3) A request for the accommodation of religious practices may be granted in whole or in part. COVID-19 Related Accommodation Or Workplace Adjustment Information Staff with a medical, mental health, or developmental disability shall immediately contact their . 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. 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. Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on religion. For Deaf/Hard of Hearing callers: When we met with you, we discussed what type of accommodation you . Dear Professor [last name], I am enrolled in your course [course number]. You should consult an attorney for legal advice specific to your . Whatever adjustments need to be made, you can count on me to do everything I can to cooperate fully. The VMS will be accessible via the myJH portal when it goes live on July 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. Questions regarding applying for housing should be directed to Housing Operations at (410) 516-7960 or [email protected]. Religious Exemption Letter. 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 description of the [modified/alternate] employment is as follows (include description of accommodation here): This is a temporary accommodation, not. Notice of Liability Sample Letter. 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. Employer Letter Example: Vaccine Mandate Objection No authorship claim or copyright asserted.A letter that also came to me via a route like a letter in a bottle. Sabbath Accommodation Request - Employee Letter - Church State 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. 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. Sample Hardship Letter Financial Hardship Letters Writing A Hardship Letter Religious Accommodation Discrimination. Would you please let me know in the next week? 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. Please confirm that you want to proceed with deleting bookmark. 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. 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. This is likely to be your HR representative, but do check on that first. }\_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 OIE will then gather the necessary informationtoconsiderthe request. In the meantime, they welcome feedback or questions from students who can reach them [email protected]. This site contains User-Generated Content, meaning any and all information and content that a user submits to the Site. The sample letter linked contains false information such as: The COVID-19 vaccines are experimental gene therapy. On [enter date or dates] we will be observing [name of holiday]. Homewood Housing Requests:The university recognizes that student observance of their faith may require special consideration for housing assignments. Covid Vaccine: Laws, Rights and Exemptions - Stop Wrongful Convictions A Template for the "Request for a Religious Exemption to the COVID-19 If the employer discovers the employee lied, then the employer has an additional factor to consider. 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. 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. Religion - Af Based on that, state that you are now requesting for Reasonable Accommodation to be made within your company. 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. There is no public health emergency. Below I have included some possible ideas that could help at my workstation. 1-800-669-6820 (TTY) Employers are supposed to start out with the assumption that the employee's religious belief is sincere. Please let me know if you need additional information or would like to discuss additional ideas. 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 . . 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. Get the free religious accommodation examples form - pdfFiller I would like to request for accommodations to help decrease the pain caused by my back condition. An employer that requires vaccinations against COVID-19 must grant sincere religious accommodation requests, so long as they. 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. if there are additional services at other times, or services offered on campus versus at a home congregation). 5. 37+ Religious Accommodation Letter Sample - AryaGunjales Religious accommodation is covered under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Religious Accommodation Request - Template Back Top Sitting or standing for long periods of time in the same position is causing increased pain and is decreasing my mobility. 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. Suspicious timing might arise if a worker requests and is denied time off on a Saturday and then the worker claims to have joined a religious organization that meets then and revives the request. Employees requesting a religious accommodation shall immediately contact their local Equal Employment Opportunity Coordinator. 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 . Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Edit your religious accommodation approval letter online Type text, add images, blackout confidential details, add comments, highlights and more. nd OIE will do its best to respond in a timely manner. Writing A Hardship Letter To Social Security. Explain that you would like an accommodation to allow you to practice your religion at work. More than 10,000 requests from across the Total Force have been received, of which approximately 2,100 have been disapproved due to military readiness considerations. 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 . 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. 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; 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. Send religious accommodation letter sample via email, link, or fax. 10 Examples of Religious Exemption Requests for Covid-19 Vaccines 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. var currentUrl = window.location.href.toLowerCase(); I would also be open to any other suggestions that you might have. You are encouraged to submit your request for accommodation ten (10) business days following implementation of the vaccination policy. *If you are a graduate student and the portal does not work for you, please contact Dining to be manually added. The Interactive Process can begin in a number of ways. Please note that accommodation requests received past the deadline will not be considered until afterhousing assignments are determined. Subject: Assertion of Religious Exemption to Vaccination and Request for Accommodation. 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. 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. There are many types of accommodations. Housing operated by religious organizations and private clubs may limit occupancy to members as. An applicant or employee to practice or observe his or her religion. $(document).ready(function () { For accommodation ideas by disability or limitation, visit JANs A to Z page. On [enter date or dates] we will be observing [name of holiday]. 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 Policy Office | University Compliance Services PDF Manager Workplace Religious Accommodation Toolkit: I look forward to hearing from you soon regarding this request. 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). Under the Equal Employment regulations, I am entitled to accommodations provided that they do not cause undue hardship to the company. OpJAGAF 2019-9, 21 March 2019, Religious Accommodation Request-Norse Sample Email - Religious Accommodation Request. 3. A request for a religious accommodation for housing must be made before housing is requested. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Other objective reasons that the employer has to believe the requested accommodation isn't being sought for religious reasons. To have your request for a religious academic/workplace accommodation considered, please review the following process: 1. Contact the University Chaplains Office only if there is a conflict in making the accommodations for a religious/cultural observance. The University may request the student provide information to support the need for an accommodation based on the student's sincerely held religious belief. Religious Accommodations - Johns Hopkins University Once OIE has all supporting documentation, it will strive for a 5 business day turnaround. Describe what you expect this reasonable accommodation to be. A religious accommodation is any adjustment to the work environment that will allow an employee or applicant to practice his or her religion. 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. [email protected] 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 . 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). Be aware of differences in state law. DOCX Religious Accommodation Request Form - Columbia University 1-800-669-6820 (TTY) 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. Must an . She had just been hired as a cashier at the fast-food restaurant. Your name 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. Employees may also request workplace adjustments based on other COVID-19 circumstances not related to being in the increased risk category. The Department of the Air Force is processing a number of Religious Accommodation Requests for the COVID-19 vaccine. Reasonable religious accommodation requests will be made on a casebycase basis taking into account factors including but not limited to: nature of the accommodation requested; duration of the request; timeliness of the request; alternative accommodations; financial impact; academic impact; and other related factors. If 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. EEOC Clarifies Religious Exemptions to Covid-19 Vaccine Mandates - JD Supra PO Box 81489 Middlesex, NJ 08 Fax Number: Your accommodation request will be reviewed by your . How to Request a Covid-19 Vaccine Exception 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. Washington, DC 20507 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. Make sure, as well, that the letter does not contain any grammatical or spelling errors. $('.container-footer').first().hide(); 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. Bunting noted that companies that previously placed employees on unpaid leave when they declined COVID-19 vaccinations for religious reasons are now bringing them back to the workplace. PDF Email: [email protected] COMDTINST 1000 - U.S. Department Be courteous and professional and show that you are willing to meet your employer halfway. 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. 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 . 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. } If it would be easier, I would be happy to talk with you about this further in person or by phone. 5. At JAN, I often discuss options with employees about what might be useful to include and how to clearly explain what accommodation is needed. Please let me know your decision at your earliest convenience. I do not wish to have a conflict between my job duties and my obligations to God. Your address 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.