Eid Al-Adha: Dealing With Religious Festivals In The Workplace

Eid al-Adha (known as the festival of sacrifice), the Islamic holiday marking the end of the Hajj pilgrimage, is due to begin this coming Tuesday (21 August). The festival is celebrated with prayer and feast, typically on a large scale with Muslims in their respective communities coming together to partake in the festivities. Many Muslims may request time off work to celebrate Eid al-Adha, so here are a few considerations for employers to bear in mind as the holiday approaches:

• Whilst there is no legal requirement to observe religious holidays, it is best employment practice to accommodate holiday requests, maintaining a consistent approach, in order to avoid allegations of discrimination. Where an employee has sufficient holiday entitlement, employers should generally grant the requested leave provided that it is reasonable for the employee to be absent during this time. Failing that, unpaid leave should also be considered for employees who do not have sufficient