Ethics and Religion Talk: Is it Fair to Give Religious People Days Off When Non-Religious Will Have to Work?

Is it fair to give religious people days off when non religious will have to work?

Linda Knieriemen, Senior Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Holland, responds:

Giving religious people days off is fair only if a policy of religious days off is implemented for all religions and those who practice no formal religion, equally. This, of course could be a scheduler’s nightmare!  

The deeper question is why, in a religiously diverse country with an establishment clause, or so called “separation of church and state” should a government agency such as the post office, be required to meet the religious needs of anyone?  It is not the government’s responsibility to support the practice of one’s faith.  Presumably there are other jobs such a person could choose. However, since  love and kindness is at the root of most religions and ethical practices,  co-workers of differing faiths could chose to put their religion into practice by covering for one another on their days of worship.

A friend works for a company owned by Seventh Day Adventist. They close production at the plant on Saturday and no one works! Because I was preparing this response I asked him if the company accommodates about those who worship on Fridays or Sundays and he said yes, the managers work with employees to facilitate their worship practice. A wise practice for a private company who wishes to keep skilled and seasoned employees! 

In my Presbyterian tradition, we are encouraged to take a Sabbath Day every week whether or not it is on Sunday.  Wise the worshipping community who has an alternative worship time than Sunday morning at 10 o’clock so that Sunday workers are able to worship communally! 

Fred Stella, the Pracharak (Outreach Minister) for the West Michigan Hindu Temple, responds:

There must be a path toward mutual accommodation on this issue. Sabbath is a centuries old tradition that should be respected. Hinduism does not have an official Sabbath. It is said that we have so many holy days on our calendar that if we added a Sabbath no work would ever get done! And it is true that while temples are usually open all week long, families tend to attend services on Sundays more than any other day. This is because we are conforming to the country’s Christocentric tradition. 

There are many examples of traditions that have a religious foundation but are now secularized. Thanksgiving, Halloween and weddings just to name a few. I see no reason why Sabbath cannot be included. Of course, anyone would be able to create a Sabbath at anytime during the week. We have the science behind the religious doctrines that is clear about the health benefits of such a practice. We should all encourage its observance. 

The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds:

As far as I understand it, an employer is not obligated to give the employee time off for a religious holiday but they should try to accommodate their employees' requests within reason.  I do believe the best workplace atmosphere is created when all employees are treated equally. I also think it is important that individual religious beliefs are respected. What makes this question more challenging is not about the occasional religious holiday but about needing time off for the weekly Sabbath. I think the postal worker having to work a few Sundays during the year to be fair to their co-workers would be a reasonable middle ground. 

Rev. Salvatore Sapienza, the Senior Pastor at Douglas Congregational United Church of Christ in Saugatuck/Douglas, responds:

A recent case brought before the Supreme Court regarding a Christian mail carrier's fight with the U.S. Postal Service over his refusal to work on Sundays has led to a debate over whether religious people are more deserving of weekend days off than other people.

I believe in the importance of honoring of the Sabbath, but the commandment to “honor the Sabbath” doesn’t mean to go to church on Sunday. Sabbath means “day of rest.”

In the Creation story from the Book of Genesis, we hear that “God rested” after creating the heavens and earth. We, too, need to honor times of rest from our labors, especially in this culture which overvalues productivity.

This unhealthy American work ethic and its “idle hands are the devil’s playground” philosophy have led many of us to view “rest” as wasted time, but honoring the Sabbath is sacred,​ vital and necessary for our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

In his book, Sabbath, ordained minister, Wayne Muller, says, “No spiritual tradition says that God wants us to be exhausted. When we're on the wheel of constant work, our eye is on the next thing that has to be done. The Sabbath has a joyful uselessness to it. We are not supposed to accomplish anything of any significance so that we can stop looking for what's not there and have the time to drink from what's already here.” 

Father Kevin Niehoff, O.P., a Dominican priest who serves as Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Grand Rapids, responds:

The question of fairness is likely inaccurate. More appropriately, is it just? I note from the cited article that the USPS accommodated shift swaps. Instead of working with his employer, the individual chose not to go to work.

I judge to adapt a work schedule to give an employee time to worship is just. I do not believe an employee skipping work is either just or fair. This act could justly lead to termination. The Justices of the Supreme Court have much to ponder!