The employer organizes the work, provides the employee with the agreed work in the agreed quantity and time, and the employee fulfills his duties as stipulated in the employment contract. The parties may, but are not obligated to, agree to additional vacation days or time off. The Employment Contracts Act makes no exceptions for holidays and customs of different religions or cultures when granting holidays, the national and state holidays listed in the Holidays and Holidays Act are to be taken as a starting point.
The employer is not required to provide time off for prayer or other religious or cultural traditions. However, the employer can implement a flexible time management policy and shape working hours in such a way that necessary actions can be performed during scheduled breaks at work. If possible, the employer organizes the work in such a way that other religious holidays can also be celebrated. Diversity enriches, broadens horizons and promotes tolerance. As part of organizational culture, the cultural background of all employees in the organization can be emphasized and beliefs and practices can be accepted, awareness raised and celebrated together.
The employer must treat employees fairly, promote equality and protect employees from discrimination. Therefore, it is first and foremost the employer’s duty to organize work according to the needs of the company, taking into account, if possible, the wishes of the employees and without harming the interests or rights of other employees.
The article was published in the labor inspectorate magazine Tööelu.
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2023-12-16 11:04:00
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