Assalamu Alaikum,
Ramadan is upon us and we are excited to have what may be our most in-person experience in several years, insha’Allah. We have missed seeing you at Tarawih prayers and community events.
Below you will find a few different resources to help you prepare to practice your faith and assert your rights. Please review them and share them with your family and friends. If you have any questions or need assistance, you can reach our legal team by completing our online intake form.
We pray you and your loved ones have a blessed Ramadan and ask that you please keep our team in your duas.
Sincerely,
Natima Neily
Legal Services Coordinator
Requesting Accommodations
While it might seem intimidating to request an accommodation at school or work, remember that you have a right to practice your religion and there are laws that ensure you can exercise this right.
At School
Students should be accommodated for prayers, iftars, and Eid. Requests for these accommodations should be made in writing. You can download our template letter here.
You can read more about your right to accommodations at school, what you and your parents should know if you’re experiencing bullying, and review our resource for school officials on our website.
In the Workplace
You are entitled to prayer and iftar breaks and to take time off for Eid, so long as the request is reasonable and does not cause undue hardship to the employer.
Things to Remember When Requesting Ramadan Accommodations at Work:
- Familiarize yourself with your employer’s procedures for requesting religious accommodations
- Make it clear that you are requesting the accommodation because of your sincerely-held religious belief or practice
- Make your request to your direct supervisor or to the person designated by company policy, in writing, as early as you can. You can download our template letter here
- Your employer is not required to provide the specific or preferred accommodation you are requesting. If your employer provides you with alternatives that are reasonable accommodations, they will have met their legal obligations
- If your employer fails to engage in an interactive process with regards to providing accommodations, you should file a complaint with your direct supervisor and the person designated by company policy
You can read more about your rights as an employee in California and share our guide for employers, in case you are a manager or your managers have questions, on our website.