New Job- Advice about Religious Issues

I just got a job offer at a hospital as a therapist. I was wondering at which point do I discuss the need for flexibility with regard to religious issues, such as leaving early on friday and taking off days for holidays. Is this something I should discuss after I get hired, or before I sign the contract? Thanks for the advice!

Diamond Member Joined: Aug 07 2006 Posts: 2556

Congratulations on your job offer!

Definitely work it out before. They offered you a job in this economy - there was probably tough competition, which suggests that they want you very much. This is the right time to negotiate the details. But if they need a therapist to cover all day Friday, weekends, etc, then you would not be the right person for the job. As for holidays - make sure they know that there are many holidays which do not appear on the secular calendar, and that you can submit your time-off requirements well in advance so that the needs of the facility can be met with minimal disruption.

Definitely bring it up at this point. I usually do so at the end of the interview. They have a right to know if you will meet the requirements for this job, which may entail, for example, working until 7 on Friday without exception. They may be willing to work out an arrangement if religious needs conflict with job requirements, but they won't be motivated to do so if you wait too long and they feel that they were being led on.

I recently interviewed for a therapist position at a hospital. The interview went great, until I brought up the question of what hours they expected me to work. The position required full days on Friday, as well as on call weekends. Well, that was the end of it. I could have tried to bargain them into some arrangement where I worked extra Sundays instead, but I really wasn't interested.

OP here- thanks for the responses. The thing is I'm not sure if I want to take the job... so I told them I would let them know within 2 weeks. (I'm still waiting to hear back from other places I interviewed at). They want me to work till 4 on Friday, which might get a little tight in the winter, and I already told them that I could work Sunday instead of Shabbos. Should I bring this up at the end of the two weeks or before? Thanks again!

Platinum Member Joined: Dec 27 2007 Posts: 7253

I am not a lawyer. This is not legal advice.

I would not bring up any religious issues or holidays until after you sign the contract, unless the contract or the terms and conditions of employment specify that you need to be available saturdays or some other specific days that you cannot make it.

Diamond Member Joined: Aug 07 2006 Posts: 2556

If you are waiting for other offers - let them know that you have received a job offer, but that you are still very interested in hearing their decision and need an answer by such-and-such date. Sometimes hiring decisions can drag on for months otherwise.

Executive Member Joined: Jul 21 2011 Posts: 349

Marina, nicely said.

Gold Member Joined: Sep 23 2008 Posts: 1261

Be aware though that if you engage in extensive conversations about hours with them before taking the job, they may assume that you will be taking the job -- especially if they agree to make accommodations in scheduling for you. So in other words, unless you're serious about them, don't go down that road. That said, I'd bring it up before accepting the job because it's part of negotiations, just as salary, vacation, and other items are.

I usually bring it up AFTER I have a written contract draft, but obviously some form of agreement before signing. As it gets a bit awkward and many organisation may not be willing to put explicit clause within the contract (which tends to be vague like "expected to work reasonable hours deemed necessary to carry out duties"), I usually prepare a separate memo to include that I will leave early during the winter Fridays 1-2hours prior to sunset.

In case your employer is not familiar with hiring someone who's shomer shabbat, here's an excellent publication that explains in straight forward manner. (Though obvilusly legal bits and shabbat starting time are geared for UK readers).
http://www.bod.org.uk/content/Employment.pdf

my husband recently accepted a new job. we spoke to my brother who is an employment attorney and asked him this exact question. he said no question, do NOT discuss it now, since he has dealt with so many cases of people who were really honest and open and then suddenly had the offer retracted "we had budget cuts, an internal candidate came up," etc. I am just going from what he said. (my husband though is not a therapist, he is a programmer so I don't know if it's different). If it doesn't say explicitly that you are needed on call for weekends in the job description, they cannot legally force you to work on weekends or fire you for not being available.

Posted: Mon, Sep 19 2011, 10:42 pm Post subject:

Sounds like good advice here, was just thinking maybe you could mention that you would be happy to work X-mas, easter, etc. Though I've never worked in the secular world, so maybe someone else should chime in if that's a good idea or not. Seems like it would be an added bonus for them though, kind of as a trade-off for the other conditions you need.
_________________
I'm not trying to offend, but I don't care about being PC.

I emphasize leaving early becomes an issue only 4-5months of the year , not an issue during spring/summer/early autumn. And part of that falls at usually quiet end-of-the-year/Xmas period. I usually make up the hours either coming in early/skipping lunch break/if needed working motzei shabbat. I don't volunteer to work over Xmas/Easter, esp as Easter tends to coincide with Pesach.