A
Leave Arrangements
Guidance on Religious Observance and Beliefs - Requests for Leave
Contents
Scope
Principles
Guidance
Festivals and Customs
Bereavement
Baha’i
Key Festival Dates:
Food
Bereavement
Buddhism
Key Festival Dates:
Food and clothing:
Bereavement
Key Festival Dates
Food and Clothing
Bereavement
Hinduism
Key Festival Dates
Food and Clothing
Bereavement
ISLAM (Muslim)
Festivals
Food and Clothing
Other requirements
Bereavement
Jainism
Key Festival Dates
Food
Bereavement
Judaism (Jews)
Key Festival Dates
Food and clothing
Bereavement
Rastafarianism
Key Festival Dates
Food and clothing
Bereavement
Food
Bereavement
Zorastrianism
Bereavement
Scope
This document applies to all employees of Leicestershire County Council employed under the National Joint Council for Local Government Service Employees.
Principles
The County Council’s organisational values include focusing at all times on the people of Leicestershire, being flexible, innovative and co-operative in the provision of our services.
Application of the arrangements described below must therefore be considered in the context of these values and in the interests of efficient service provision. Consequently, this working arrangement will be subject to periodic review to ensure that it continues to meet both organisational and personal perspectives.
Guidance
This document provides a summary of the key festivals and customs relating to some of the main religions and beliefs in Leicester and Leicestershire. It is acknowledged that there may be other faiths and religions observed by employees and there is no intention to discriminate against those that are not currently included.
Please note that the information given in this document is therefore not exhaustive and whilst care has been taken to try and provide accurate and up to date information at the time of writing, it is appreciated that customs and obligations may change over time. Individual and family practices may also vary from the general descriptions given below.
Back to Content
Introduction – Key Principles of Granting Leave
Festivals and Customs
The Council will give sympathetic consideration to an employee’s request for leave for religious observances provided the employee has sufficient personal leave entitlement to utilise (for example annual leave, flexi leave, toil). Whilst there is no legal requirement on the Council to provide time off for religious observance or belief, in cases where the leave can be accommodated without disruption to the service and where it is reasonable and practical for the employee to be away from work such leave should be granted.
Whilst it may be possible to accommodate one or a few requests, it may not be possible to allow a large number of employees to be absent at the same time. In those instances, managers should discuss the matter with the employees concerned and (if necessary) with HR when approving or rejecting time off – care should be taken not to indirectly discriminate against particular employees or groups of employees.
Leave should be requested using the normal annual leave, flexi leave, toil and/or unpaid leave procedures and employees should try and ensure that as much notice as possible is given, balanced against any leave arrangements their colleagues may already have in place (where known). Managers should be aware that the dates for some festivals vary from year to year and some may not always been known until close to the day on which they are to take place.
Care must be taken to ensure that employees who do not hold any specific religion or belief are not disadvantaged and that requests for leave from all sectors of the workforce are dealt with fairly and consistently.
Some religions require prayers at specific times of the day. Whilst employers are not required to provide a designated prayer room or other facilities (NB a prayer room is available for employees located at County Hall), managers should endeavour to make a quiet room or area available if at all practical and where this will not disrupt business activity. Managers may discuss with employees a suitable quiet area that might be used for this purpose and any conditions of use that may need to apply, e.g. time of use, changes of use if needed for other activities at other times of the day, and use by employees for non religious purposes where a quiet area may be needed.
Please note that time off to offer prayers within the working day is not an automatic right and time approved within ‘work time’ must be made up at another time.
Employers are not required to enter into financial expenditure or building alterations to accommodate religious needs and beliefs. It is important however that managers ‘know’ their staff and are able to ensure that they and the employee’s co-workers respect the religious requirements, customs and beliefs of the employee, e.g. special dietary needs, washing before prayers, fasting, wearing of clothing consistent with their religion where safe and reasonable to do so etc.
In regard to time out for religious observance and belief Managers, co-workers and the employees making the requests for leave are expected to work at all times in a spirit of co-operation and flexibility.
Not all members of a particular religion will follow each and every practice, observance or festival. In some instances, an adjustment to the working day may be all that is requested to enable the employee to attend prayers before or after work.
Bereavement
IMPORTANT: Managers and employees should read this section in conjunction with, and adherence to, the Council’s policy on Leave Arrangements.
The information relating to bereavement is for guidance only; it is not a prescription for the amount of time off (paid or otherwise) employees should be granted and care must be taken by managers to ensure fairness and consistency with employees of other faiths and beliefs. The intention is to provide an understanding of the cultural obligations and customs employees may be required or wish to observe at a time of bereavement.
If the employee needs or wishes to take a longer period of absence than that described in the policy on Leave Arrangements because of their faith, belief or family/personal circumstances.
Back to Content
Baha’i
Baha’i s should say one of three obligatory prayers during the day in a quiet place facing the Qiblih (the Shrine of Baha’u’llah, near Akka, Israel), which is in a south easterly direction from the UK. Two of the prayers require movement and prostration. Baha’is are required to wash their hands and face before prayers but are able to use normal washroom facilities for this purpose.
Baha’i festivals take place from sunrise to sunset and they may wish to ensure they are home prior to sunset on the day prior to the festival and may wish to refrain from working on festival dates.
Key Festival Dates:
Baha’i Fast / 2 March – 20 March(Refrain from eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset during this period. Evening and nightshift workers may appreciate the opportunity to prepare food at sundown. Exemptions from fasting are for sickness, pregnancy, travelling and strenuous physical work).
Naw-Ruz (Baha’i New Year) / 21 March
Rivdan / 21 April – 2 May
Most important of the Baha’i festivals. Includes three holy days on which Baha’is may wish to refrain from working, 21 April, 29 April and 2 May.
Declaration of the Bab / 23 May
Ascension of the Baha’u’llah / 29 May
Martyrdom of the Bab / 9 July
Birth of the Bab / 20 October
Birth of Baha’u’llah / 12 November
Food
Most Baha’is do not consume alcohol. There are no other dietary restrictions.
Bereavement
Burial normally takes place as soon as the arrangements can be put in place and funerals usually take place relatively close to the place of death, i.e. it is forbidden to carry the body more than 1 hour from the place of death. There is no specific period of mourning and no mourning rituals.
It is acceptable to telephone or visit the bereaved to offer condolences and to send food and flowers to the home of the bereaved before or after the funeral.
Back to Content
Buddhism
There are different traditions in Buddhism emanating from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Different traditions will celebrate different festivals whilst some will not celebrate any. It will be important for employees to make clear to their managers which festivals are important to them. As the festivals follow the lunar calendar they will not take place on the same day each year.
Key Festival Dates:
Saindran Memorial Day / January / Ulambana (Ancestor Day / JulyParinirvana / January / Abhidhamma Day / October
Magha Puja Day / February/March / Kathina Day / October
Honen Memorial Day / March / The Elephant Festival / November
Buddha Day (Vesak or Visakah Puja / May / Loy Krathorg / December
The Ploughing Festival / May / Bodhi Day / December
Buddhist New Year / Varies according to tradition / Uposatha / weekly on the lunar quarter day
Asalha Puja Day (Dhamma Day) / July / Avalokitesvara’s Birthday
Food and clothing:
Most Buddhists are vegetarian reflecting commitment to non harm to themselves or others and many would not wish to prepare or serve meat to others and similarly may not wish to serve or drink alcohol in compliance with their commitment to non-intoxication. These commitments are also reflected in their dress, e.g. avoiding wearing leather clothing and shoes.
Bereavement
Buddhists with a Japanese origin usually have a funeral within a week. Buddhists originating from Cambodia, Ceylon and Thailand have three ceremonies, first held within 2 days of death, second 2-5 days after death and the third held 7 days after burial or cremation ceremony. The first 7 days after the death are the most important for final prayers in relation to the funeral.
There is no specific ‘mourning period’ but there may sometimes be a memorial service several days after death.
It is not appropriate to communicate with the bereaved prior to the funeral.
It is not always appropriate to send flowers to the funeral or make a donation. This will depend on the family’s preference and the relation to the deceased.
Back to Content
Christianity
There are many Christian Churches and organisations which have their own individual beliefs, requirements and observances
Key Festival Dates
Christmas Day / 25 December / Good Friday / March/AprilAsh Wednesday / February/March / EasterSunday / March/April
(This is a day of fasting or abstinence for many Christian religions) / All Saints Day / 1 November
Maundy Thursday / March/April / Christmas Eve / 24 December
Food and Clothing
Some Christians avoid alcohol and some Churches forbid the use of cosmetics and require females to dress modestly.
Bereavement
There are a variety of different Christian churches and organisations with their own specific observances.
In most cases funerals take place promptly within 7-10 days of the death and there are no specific mourning periods.
It is usually acceptable to telephone, visit or send a note/letter to express sympathy/condolences. Flowers are appropriate unless the family indicates otherwise. Donations are also usually acceptable.
Back to Content
Hinduism
Hinduism is a diverse religion and not all Hindus celebrate the same festivals.
Key Festival Dates
Makar Sakranti / 14 January / Ganesh Chaturthi / August/SeptemberMaha Shiva Ratri / February / Navaratri / September/October
Holi / March / Dushera (aka Vijayadashmi) / September/October
Ramnavami / April / Karava Chauth / October
Rakshabandham / August / Diwali / Late October/Early November
Janmashtami / August / New Year / Late October/Early November
There are a number of occasions throughout the year when some Hindu’s fast.
Food and Clothing
Most Hindu’s are vegetarian and do not eat meat, fish or eggs. Cows are considered sacred and so beef is generally not eaten by Hindus.
Hindu women often wear a bindi which is a red spot worn on the forehead. This denotes she is of the Hindu faith. Married Hindu women may wear a necklace, mangal sutra, which is placed around their neck during the marriage ceremony and is in addition to a wedding ring. A few Orthodox Hindu men wear a small tuft of hair, shikha, like a ponytail but this is often hidden under their hair. Some may also wear a clay marking on their forehead – a talik.
Bereavement
A 13 day mourning period commences on the day, or day after, the death during which relatives will wish to remain at home and do not visit other households. Traditionally, the closest relatives take the ashes of the deceased to the Ganges in India although this does not need to take place within a specific time period. In recent years, however, authorisation has been given by the Environment Agency for this ceremony to take place at the River Soar in Leicestershire. Ceremonies take place on a secluded river bend between the villages of Barrow upon Soar and Mountsorrel, where the Soar meets the River Wreake. There are also other locations in Britain where approval has been given for the ceremony to take place.
There are specific memorials on:
- 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th day
- after 31 days; and
- after one year
It is in order to telephone or visit the bereaved to offer condolences.
Flowers are appropriate and should be taken personally to the home of the deceased upon hearing of the death. Contributions and donations are not customary.
Back to Content
ISLAM (Muslim)
Prayers
Observant Muslims are required to pray 5 times per day; each prayer time takes about 15 minutes and can take place anywhere that is clean and quiet:
At dawn (Fair)
Mid-day (Zuhr) Winter usually between 12 noon-13.00
Summer between13.00 and16.00
Late afternoon (Asr) Winter 14.30 – 15.30
After sunset (Maghrib)
Late evening (Isha)
Friday mid-day prayers are particularly important to Muslims and may take longer than other prayer times. Friday prayers must be said in congregation and may require travel to the nearest mosque or prayer gathering.
Before prayers, observant Muslims undertake a ritual act of purification involving the use of running water to wash the hands, face, mouth, nose, arms up to the elbows and feet up to the ankles. However, the washing of feet is often performed symbolically.
Festivals
Dates of festivals are dependent on sightings of the new moon and therefore vary from year to year. It is not always possible for employees to give a precise date of a festival until much nearer the time although an approximate date is possible.
Ramadan is particularly significant for Muslims and takes place in the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar. Fasting is required between dawn and sunset. Most Muslims will attend work in the normal way but may break their fast at sunset. For employees working evening or night shifts the opportunity to eat food at sunset and/or sunrise may be appreciated.
Eid Al-Fitr – three days to mark the end of Ramadan. Most Muslims will only request annual leave for possibly the first of the three days.
Eid Al-Adha – three day festival which takes place two months and 10 days after Eid Al-Fitr and, similarly, most Muslims may only seek leave for the first of the three days.
Pilgrimage - All Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage once in their lifetime to Mecca and may therefore seek an extended period of leave in order to do so.
Food and Clothing
Muslims are required to cover the body. Women may wish to cover the whole body except their face, hands and feet.
They are forbidden from eating any food derived from the pig, including lard which may for example be present in bread and ice cream. Eating food derived from any carnivorous animal is also forbidden. Meat that may be consumed must be slaughtered by the Halal method. The consumption of alcohol is also forbidden, including that which may present in food dishes, sauces etc.
Other requirements
- Gambling in any form is forbidden
- Observant Muslims are required to wash after using the toilet and may often carry a small container of water into the toilet cubicle if access to running water is not available in the cubicle. In some establishments of the Council, it may be possible for these containers of water to be kept in the cubicle by agreement with other staff and cleaners.
- Some Muslims may politely decline to shake hands with the opposite sex as physical contact between the sexes is discouraged
Bereavement
Burial must take place as soon as possible and may therefore occur at very short notice, for example within 24 hours. It is forbidden to accompany the body with music or crying.
The family observes a 3 day mourning period. During the period of mourning the family of the deceased is in isolation and other relatives and friends may deal with all outside matters. If the deceased was a next of kin, the official mourning custom is for the mourner to withdraw from public life for 40 days. A widow will withdraw for 4 months and 10 days (iddah).