Religious Accommodations
A reasonable religious accommodation in the employment setting is any adjustment to the work environment or in the way tasks or responsibilities are customarily done that enables an employee to participate in their sincerely held religious practice or belief without undue hardship on the conduct of Western’s business or operations.
Factors
Factors considered in determining religious accommodations include business needs; academic requirements; and considerations of cost, safety, efficiency, and the rights of others. The University is not required by law or policy to accommodate religious beliefs when such accommodation would violate other laws or interfere with the safety and security of our campus. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) provides guidance further information related to religious discrimination.
Examples of Religious Accommodations
Examples of a religious accommodation for employees may include, but are not limited to: leave for religious observances, providing time and place to pray, allowing flexibility to wear religious attire to work, schedule changes, shift exchanges, lateral transfers, and reassignment. Reasonable accommodations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Process
This process applies to faculty, staff, and student employees in the employment setting. Employees requesting a religious accommodation will go through the following process:
- Notify their supervisor or Human Resources to initiate the process.
- Fill out the Religious Accommodation Request Form and submit to Human Resources.
- Human Resources may ask the employee to provide additional information about the basis of the religious obligation or other belief-based practice.
- The employee will be notified by their supervisor or department chair of the determination and if granted, of the type of accommodation.
- The supervisor will help make the agreed upon workplace accommodation effective.
Students who seek religious accommodations in the academic setting should contact the Office of Student Life.
Anyone who believes they have been discriminated against by the denial of a requested religious accommodation is encouraged to contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance.