How to Request Off from School or Work to Celebrate Eid
Eid al-Fitr is around the corner. On Thursday, we will sight the moon, and if it is sighted (most likely), then Eid will fall on Friday, April 21, which is a weekday. If you are a student or are working, California law allows you to request time off from work or school for religious holidays.
To help you take time off, CAIR-SFBA has created two downloadable templates you can fill out and send to your school or work! Download them both below:
FAQ:
What if my request gets denied?
Federal and state laws generally protect a Muslim’s right to practice religion at work and school. However, this right is not absolute and depends on several factors. Although your school/employer is generally required to provide reasonable accommodations, you may not receive the exact accommodation you request. They may even deny the request completely. If either of these things happen, call CAIR’s legal team at (408) 986-9874. They can provide you with additional support to take full advantage of this holy time, insha’Allah.
What is a Reasonable Accommodation?
One that eliminates the employee’s conflict between his or her religious practices and work requirements and does not cause undue hardship for the employer. This means that the employer cannot unequivocally refuse to make a religious accommodation, but rather the employer must engage in a good-faith interactive process to resolve the conflict between your religious needs and the job’s requirements.
This template letter is not intended to give legal advice but rather general legal information and serve as a general resource. No attorney-client relationship is created by using the templates. You should consult an attorney for legal advice specific to your situation.
Source: https://ca.cair.com/sfba/updates/how-to-request-off-from-school-or-work-to-celebrate-eid/
