Can I be denied a days off request to attend church if another employee already has that day off and is unwilling to change their schedule?
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Can I be denied a days off request to attend church if another employee already has that day off and is unwilling to change their schedule?
I recently put in a request to my supervisor requesting Sundays and Mondays off. Sundays for church and Mondays for doctors’ appointments, since I am also pregnant. There is only one other person that works with me in our department. The other person currently has Saturdays and Sundays off. I was told that I can not have Sundays off because the other person was unwilling to change their days off. The other person started with the company one week before me but we started our current positions on the same day. Is there anything that I can do?
Asked on August 22, 2017 under Employment Labor Law, Nevada
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
Under federal law, an employer may not discriminate on the basis of religion. Therefore, it is required to make "reasonable accommodations" for an employee's religious beliefs unless doing so would place an "undue hardship" on the employer. Accordingly, if a company/business can show that accommodating a worker's religious practices requires more that basic administrative costs, diminishes workplace efficiency, infringes on other employees' job rights, impairs safety, conflicts with another regulation, etc., then it need not make the accomodation. Conversely, however, if your employer can change your work schedule without causing it an undue burden, then it should give you the requested time off. If you feel that your employer's refusal is unreasonable, then you have the right to file a complaint with the EEOC.
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