Q. A staff member has requested 1.5 hours off work every Friday for religious reasons, to make up at another time. Do we have to agree?
A. Religion or belief is one of nine ‘protected characteristics’ covered by the Equality Act. If an employee requests leave for a religious occasion, employers should seek to accommodate the request where possible. If you refuse you will need to be in a position to demonstrate that, having weighed up the reason for the request, the impact on the employee if the request is refused and the impact on the business of allowing the request, the refusal can be justified.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here