Archive for year: 2016

Religious beliefs may exempt you from participating in certain functions or completing certain actions. However, the rules do stipulate that you must make requests for certain accommodations based on your religious beliefs. You cannot, in other words, expect an employer or any other form of organization to guess what your religious beliefs are, and to put the appropriate measures in place. Hence, you will need to write a hardship letter religious accommodation discrimination.

Basics of Writing the Hardship Letter Religious Accommodation Discrimination

Your letter should be a formal one, addressed to the right person. This is likely to be your HR representative, but do check on that first. Make sure, as well, that the letter does not contain any grammatical or spelling errors.

Starting the Letter

The letter should make it clear that you are requesting reasonable accommodation in view of your religious beliefs. For instance, state that there is a company policy in place that requires you to do certain things that are not acceptable within your religion. Attach a copy of the policy, highlighting the issue at hand. For instance, your company may have a certain dress code that you cannot adhere to, expect you to work on what is classed as a day of rest in your religion, and so on. Make sure that you make it very clear what it is that you cannot comply with and why.

Describe the Teachings of Your Religion That Are Relevant to Your Request

State that you are a practicing member of a certain religion. Explain that, under the doctrine of a certain belief in your religion, you cannot perform certain actions, such as shaving your beard or working on Sundays, for example. Based on that, state that you are now requesting for Reasonable Accommodation to be made within your company. Describe what you expect this “reasonable accommodation” to be. For instance, you may ask for a shift swap, provide a substitute, or ask them to waive the requirement in full.

Legal Aspects of Reasonable Accommodation

You are entitled to make this request, and your employer must make these accommodations based on the law of Equal Employment Opportunity. However, the law does stipulate that the employer only has to conform if the accommodation will not cause the company any undue hardship. Hence, your letter should also explain how your request will only pose a minor burden. State that your request is not costly, inconvenient, or unsafe in any way, and should therefore be granted.

Ending the Letter

Always end a letter by thanking your employer for their kind consideration. Be courteous and professional and show that you are willing to meet your employer halfway. For instance, if you are unable to work on a Sunday, offer to work on a different unpopular shift instead, so that your colleagues are not disproportionately disadvantaged by your request either. A final thing to remember is that, as stated, while it is your right to have these accommodations made where possible, you must formally request them. It is your responsibility to make sure your employer has received the letter, and it is your responsibility to follow it up to make sure that your requested changes have been made.

Hardship Letter Religious Accommodation Discrimination Example

{Your Name}
{Your Address}
{Your Phone #}
{Your Loan #}

{Date}

To Whom It May Concern:

I would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation due to religious belief. According to company policy at {Company Name}, I am required to {participate in function/religious event, follow certain dress codes, work on certain days, work certain hours, etc.}. I would like to request an exception based on my religious beliefs and practices.

I am a practicing member of {Religion}. As such, I am unable to {work on Sunday mornings, shave my beard, etc.}. I request Reasonable Accommodation to have {Company Name} {waive the requirement, provide a substitute, allow shift swap, etc.}.

Under the Equal Employment regulations, I am entitled to accommodations provided that they do not cause undue hardship to the company. As this would cause minimal burden for only minor {rescheduling, uniform changes, etc.}, I believe that such a request would not be unsafe, inconvenient, or costly.

Please let me know your decision at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your consideration and understanding in this matter.

Sincerely,

{Sender Name}

If you are a veteran, or surviving relative of a veteran, you may be receiving payments from Veterans Affairs. Unfortunately, they may at times commit some errors, such as overpaying you. It is all too common, in those situations, for recipients not to notice the overpayment and simply spend it, which could leave them in a situation of hardship when Veterans Affairs requests for the return of the said amount. If this has happened to you, then you may want to consider writing them a hardship letter.

Basic Rules for Writing the Hardship Letter

Your hardship letter should be a formal letter. This means that it should be presented properly, addressed to the right person in the right department, and free from grammar and spelling mistakes. It should also include your case number in the subject line, so that it is easy for Veterans Affairs to find your case.

Starting the Letter

Start by providing some personal identifying details such as your name and date of birth, which will allow the reader to check your file. Explain that, on a certain date, you received a letter from the office that stated you had received an overpayment and would now be charged for this. Make sure to include the dates and amounts, and that you attach copies of the letters that you have received. Make it very clear, at this point, what you are requesting, such as a full waiver of the amount, or some sort of payment arrangement. State that, if the amount will be charged, you will find yourself in a situation of extreme financial hardship.

Explaining Your Situation

You must then explain your side regarding the overpayment. For instance, you may have received an overpayment for several months and you have not have been aware of the mistake at all. If this is the case, include evidence to support this through statements from Veterans Affairs highlighting the payments. State that, as you believed the payments to be correct, you have spent the money on certain things, highlighting what those things are. Explain that if you have to repay the total amount that has been overpaid, it will cause you to undergo financial hardship.

Some Advice

With a hardship letter, what matters are the facts not feelings. Hence, avoid describing your emotions. Rather, stick to documented evidence such as receipts, payment stubs, bill payments, bank account statements, and more. These are the documents that will prove that you will suffer financial hardship if you are forced to pay immediately. Explain that the disparity that will be caused by not just a decrease in the payments because you will no longer receive the amount that you have been used to, having to pay back what was overpaid all at once, will be too much for you to handle.

Ending the Letter

End your letter by thanking the Veterans Affairs representative for giving you some time and consideration. Keep photocopies of everything that you have sent, and post the letter through recorded mail. If, after one week you have not received a reply, make sure to follow up.

Hardship Letter To Veterans Affairs Example

{Your Name}
{Your Address}
{Your Phone #}
{Your Loan #}

{Date}

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is {Name} and my case number is {number}. On {date}, I received a letter from Veterans Affairs notifying me that I had been overpaid and was being charged {monetary amount}. I would like to request a waiver based on extreme financial hardship.

I received the notice of overpayment and subsequent charges on {date}. However, the amount charged to me was paid as part of my benefits over the last {amount of time}. I have already spent the money on {necessary expenses}. If I am forced to pay back the amount, I will be forced to {consequences}.

I am attaching my payment stubs, receipts, {additional documentation of mortgage, medical bills, etc.} and bank account information to prove the full extent of my hardship. I will not be able to cope with a disparity this large in my finances.

Please consider the difficult situation that these circumstances have put me in when reviewing my case. Thank you for your consideration and understanding.

Sincerely,

{Sender Name}

If you are classed as disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), then reasonable accommodations may need to be made to enable you to work. Indeed, it is a legal requirement for employers to make such provisions. However, it is your responsibility to tell them that you have a disability and that you require such a provision. The best way to do that is through a hardship letter.

Understanding Reasonable Accommodations

Reasonable accommodations are classed as changes or other forms of help to the workplace or the job itself that will make it possible for someone with a disability to perform his or her job. This can be structural (widening a doorway, adjusting lighting), technological (voice-activated software), or strategic (changing uniform or allowing flexible hours).

Requesting for Reasonable Accommodations

It is your responsibility to tell your employer that you have a disability and need a reasonable accommodation. They do not have to anticipate this in other words. Under the ADA, disabled persons have the right to request accommodation, but it is their responsibility to ask for it.

You do not have to write a letter to request an accommodation nor a specific type of wording. In other words, it doesn’t have to be a formal request. However, making a formal request is generally better, not in the least because it leaves a paper trail should your employer take too much time or should you have a dispute at a later stage.

What to Include in the Letter

In your letter, you should make sure that you provide all relevant information. This includes the nature of your disability, the impact of your disability on your life, what parts of your job may require reasonable accommodation, and what specific accommodations are needed. You also need to include a number of key facts, including:

1. Your name, employee number, and position. Do make sure to include this information, even if the letter is addressed to someone like your immediate supervisor or anybody else whom you are familiar with. It is likely that your letter will travel up the chain of command, going through different departments, and they may not know who you are.
2. The date, which may be of vital importance if there is ever a dispute at your workplace.
3. Full details about the disability that you have, identifying it by name and explaining what it is and how it affects you and your ability to perform your tasks.
4. A complete description of the accommodation that you require. That is, at the end of the day, the point of the letter.
5. Ideas for accommodation. Perhaps you already know exactly what you need in order to be able to do your job. If so, then you should put this in your letter. Again, don’t make others guess what you need.
6. Copies of any medical information that you have. For instance, a letter from your physician that explains your condition and how it limits your life can be very beneficial. You could also state that any medical information can be provided upon request.

Hardship Letter For Reasonable Accommodation Example

{Your Name}
{Your Address}
{Your Phone #}

{Date}

To Whom It May Concern:

Due to the hardship caused by my {permanent/temporary} disability, I would like to request {an interpreter/an assistant/reassignment/a modified job site/modified duties}. I write this letter as a request for Reasonable Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

On {date}, {description of event that caused disability, or description of disability when hired}. Unfortunately, my disability keeps me from being able to adequately perform the work required at my job without {accommodation}. At this time, I am unable to meet my job requirements because {description of restrictions caused by disability}. If I were to receive {accommodation}, {projected result}.

The Reasonable Accommodation Act ensures that I receive necessary accommodations, provided that it does not cause undue hardship on {Company Name}. I believe that since it would require {projected effort/cost} and would not compromise safety, interrupt workflow, or inconvenience other workers, this request falls within those parameters. I am a hard worker and with minimal accommodation I can perform my duties to their full extent.

Thank you for your consideration and understanding in this matter.

Sincerely,

{Sender Name}