Religon in the workplace as a manager?

Question

I am an Old Believer Russian/Greek Orthadox and our culture observes many holidays througout the calander year (including Sunday the sabbath day) An example is this saturday april 7th, the day the virgin mary became pregnant with Christ. Most outside the religion find ours difficult to understand. Its similar to catholics and follows the bible pretty closely but there are so many other strict rules some would call us Amish. Anyway ive started a new job and there are many procedures i did not have at my old management position. There are many no shows or employees opening the stores late, especially on weekends because majority of employees are younger girls. Am i legally required to show up in their place if it as a day im observing a holiday? As a manager i understand the responsibilty, but i also am responsible to follow my religion and have Never in my working history had to work on one before and im 25yrs old. I sent a email to my boss of all the holidays for the year already and I also made it clear on hire date that i observed holidays and cannot work. Ive mentioned being unable to work these days and other managers laugh because they say," good luck with that cuz weve all had to drive down on a sunday morning in our PJs." So im just a little worried about the situation happening and me looking bad to my boss saying "Hey sorry but I cant come in im observing a holiday". What are my legal obligations? Thanks!!

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

If you cannot perform the duties of a manager, then the company will find someone else to do the job. They are not obliged to keep you in that position if you are unable or unwilling to do your job. In fact, they are not obliged to keep you on the payroll at all.

You have to decide which you will put first in your life. There are plenty of people who WILL work on what you consider to be a holiday, and if you won't work, then the company is apt to fire you and hire someone else.

It's not a question of legal obligations. It's a question of what the company will put up with. And, unless the company in question is religious in nature, they aren't going to put up with much.

Answer 2

I don't know what job you have, but I don't think there are "legal" obligations. But if you want to keep this job, you should show up when you're needed. You can and will be fired for not. You knew the responsibilities when you were hired and accepted the job anyway--knowing this could happen. So GO TO WORK--God will understand. He's cool that way.

Answer 3

You don't necessarily have to have the WHOLE day off. Maybe just 2 hours. There are churches with masses for Holy days in the mornings AND in the evenings too. Make every attempt, but, if you just can't, you just cant. Just make sure you go to confession and say that you really tried...as long as you really tried of coarse! lol

Answer 4

He knew from hiring date that you required these days off due to your religion. He cannot force you to work on these days. It would be like him trying to make a 16 year old come in during school hours. However, you may have some awkward hours trying to fit in your schedule.

Answer 5

A part of leadership is setting an example and making sacrifices. Or maybe you don't like your work and you should find something else to do.

Answer 6

Yes. If you can't preform your job duties and they interfere in such a drastic way, you should get a waiver from your employer in writing or quit. Did you know before you started that you would have to do these duties? If so, why did you accept the position. It's not like you are asking for something more reasonable like wearing a skirt instead of pants. You are asking for time off when you just started. Find a job where you don't have to work Sundays at all.

Source(s):

Small business owner

Answer 7

I'm a 911 dispatcher. There are some jobs and professions in which you are just stuck with it; two minutes from now my boss could call me and say I need to pull a 12 hour shift. Yeah, I could decline, but that kind of thing adds up.

They can fire you for not coming into work if you are scheduled. However, they cannot fire you for not coming to work when someone else is on the schedule. Since I'm in emergency services, yeah, I could get fired, but you're in retail (so it sounds), so you cannot. Or, at least, if you do get fired, you will probably get full unemployment compensation and you may be able to seek damages in court.

In Pennsylvania (not sure where you are), I can call off sick for three consecutive days before I'm legally required to get a doctor's note. (Again, I'm in emergency services so I don't count, but everyone else does!) If I don't get a note, they can fire me on the spot; if I get a note, I can be fired and collect unemployment.

Realize: You can be fired for anything at any time; the question is, will you collect unemployment and have a lawsuit?

Answer 8

Your employer is not legally required to observe any holidays.

You need to request those days off. If they are not holidays, then you can use a vacation or personal day. If you do not get permission, then you either must work the job or find a new one.

You knew what the requirements were when you accepted the job. Don't try changing the rules, now.

I work in an industry that goes 24 x 7 x 365. I'm also aware that if something goes down on Christmas Day (and it has) I have to deal with it. That's my job, I accepted the responsibility.

Source(s):

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