Policy

5:070 Religious Holidays

The school district shall provide the opportunity for employees who wish to be absent to observe a religious holiday. An employee may request time off, and his or her supervisor is to make every effort to grant the request if the employee gives notice of his or her intention to be absent at least five (5) days prior to the date of absence.

The employee may use earned vacation time, holiday time, personal leave, compensatory time or other unrestricted paid time in accordance with an applicable collective bargaining agreement, where applicable, to make up the absence. A per diem deduction may also be requested by the employee.

Nothing in this policy shall be construed to deny the employee the right to engage in work, during hours other than the employee’s regular working hours, consistent with the school districts operational needs, to compensate for work time lost for religious reasons. An employee who elects such deferred work shall be compensated at the wage rate which he or she would have earned during the originally scheduled work period.

Legal Reference(s): 

775 ILCS 5/1, et seq.

Date Adopted:   December 19, 2006