Weekly dilemma: Taking time off for religious reasons

Refusing an employee's request for time off for religious observance without objective justification could leave the employer open to claims of indirect discrimination on the grounds of religion, explains Matthew Whelan of Speechly Birchams.

  • Weekly dilemma: Requests for time off    By Matthew Whelan, solicitor at Speechly Birchams, writing in Personnel Today.

    Also

    Have faith, will travel   Marian Bloodworth of Lovells outlines an employer's legal obligations when dealing with staff requests to take leave on religious grounds, with examples from recent case law.

    Flexible working to cover holy days     Equal Opportunities Review reports on the establishment of the Employers Forum on Belief, a group of high profile employers that have pledged to extend flexible working to help ethnic minority employees celebrate holy days and festivals.

    Case law reports: Religion or belief discrimination (indirect discrimination)    XpertHR's case law reports service rounds up significant decisions.

    Religion or belief discrimination   XpertHR's employment law reference manual offers extensive guidance on how to comply with the legislation outlawing discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief.

    How to comply with the law on religion or belief discrimination   Practical guidance from XpertHR's How to service.