Are employees entitled to time off for religious reasons?

In Massachusetts, employees are protected from discrimination based on their religion by the Massachusetts Fair Employment Practices Act. This Act states that employees must be given reasonable accommodation for their religious practices, which can include time off for religious observances. When it comes to taking time off for religious reasons, employers must allow employees to take the time needed to practice their faith unless the request would cause the employer “undue hardship”. This means that employers may refuse a request if, for example, it would require the employer to hire extra staff or re-arrange their business operations in a way that would be too costly. Employees must provide their employer with reasonable notice when they need to take time off for religious reasons. This can be done either by providing the request in writing or verbally, but employees should try to provide as much notice as possible. The employer may then accept or deny the request, depending on the situation. If an employer does not provide reasonable accommodations for an employee’s religious practice, then the employee may have grounds to file a complaint. Employees should contact the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) for more information. The MCAD can provide advice and investigate any claims of discrimination.

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Are employees entitled to time off for religious reasons?

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