Thou Shall Accommodate: Funeral Leave As A Religious Accommodation Under Title VII

Requests for reasonable accommodations are commonplace for employers of qualified individuals with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.  But a recent case reminds employers that reasonable accommodation of an employee's religious beliefs and practices is also required, under Title VII.  The case also serves as a reminder to carefully consider the circumstances of any request for a leave of absence.

Funeral Leave as a Reasonable Accommodation

When Sikiru Adeyeye's father died in 2010 in Nigeria, Adeyeye requested five weeks of leave from his employer, Heartland Sweeteners, to travel to Nigeria to attend the funeral ceremony.  He made the request in writing, and when Heartland did not respond, he wrote again.  His letters stated that he was needed in Nigeria as his father's oldest son to complete a "funeral rite according to our custom and tradition."  He referenced animal sacrifices.  He stated that the consequence of not completing these