Employers should be supportive towards employees whose religious beliefs require them to observe certain practices. For example, employees may be required by their religion to pray at set times of the day.
Although not a legal requirement, it is good practice for employers to set aside a quiet room or area for prayer or private contemplation.
It is always good practice to consult with staff and/or their representatives before agreeing (or refusing to agree) to provide any particular facilities for religious observance.
It is the organisation's policy to endeavour, on request, to alter temporarily an employee's working pattern to support them during a period of fasting for religious purposes or to alter an employee's working pattern so that breaks can be granted at times that coincide with their needs for religious observance. Alternatively, the organisation will, where appropriate, endeavour to grant employees reasonable time off during working hours for religious observance insofar as this is possible and practicable, taking into account the needs of the business and whether or not such arrangements might cause disturbance or disruption to other members of staff and/or their work or work patterns.
However, where an employee requests time off or a change to working patterns at a particularly busy time or at a time when the employee's absence would otherwise cause difficulties for the business or their department, or where the amount of time off requested is unreasonable or excessive (taking into account the needs of the business), the organisation reserves the right to refuse to grant some or all of any of the time off requested.
All employees, whatever their religion or belief, will be treated equally in respect of requests for time off for religious observance or requests for alterations to their working patterns for religious reasons.
With its next office move (away from 7-9 Woodbridge St), the UK-based office hub will provide a dedicated quiet room for the purpose of allowing employees to pray or undertake religious observance. This room will be open to all employees, whatever their religion. Employees who do not adhere to any religion or belief may also use this room for the purpose of quiet contemplation or rest. Employees who choose to use the room provided for these purposes are requested to respect the rights of other individuals to observe their personal beliefs.
The organisation will provide, insofar as is possible and practicable, food options to suit employees of different religions. Employees who, for religious reasons, require specific types of food, or require food to be prepared in a particular way, should speak to the People team to make their specific needs known. The People team will then make all reasonable efforts to accommodate the employee's needs. However, the organisation cannot guarantee to provide food to suit all religious requirements at all times.
The organisation provides food storage and food heating facilities in all office spaces. These are available to all employees. Employees must ensure that all food placed in the fridges or on the shelves provided is stored in sealed containers at all times. This is for the benefit of all employees, some of whom may wish to ensure that their food does not come into contact with, for example, pork or other meat products.
The responsibility for this policy lies first and foremost with the employee's line manager. Any employee who has a query related to their religious needs should contact the People team.