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.
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