Posted on 08/08/25
Baltimore, MD - Aug. 8, 2025 -Agudath Israel of America welcomes the recent memo (“Memo”) promulgated by the United Stats Office of Personnel Management (“OPM”) that addresses accommodations for religious federal employees as a significant step in the right direction and an important advance for religious liberty.
The Memo, dated July 15, 2025 “encourage[s]”government agencies “to adopt a generous approach to approving religious accommodations, prioritizing employee needs while maintaining operational efficiency.” Among other provisions, the Memo directs agencies to engage in a good-faith interactive process when an employee requests a religious accommodation.
In describing accommodations for Sabbath and holiday observances, it encourages allowing for remote or telework both on days of religious significance as well as days preceding holidays, so as to avoid travel and commuting on those days. The Memo acknowledges that such travel can interfere with preparation for the holiday. Although only applicable to federal agencies, the communication increases the likelihood that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will adopt similar guidelines, thus extending these protections to the private sector.
Since the issuance of the Memo, Agudath Israel’s Office of Federal Constituent Services has worked with senior personnel in OPM in implementing the Memo’s guidelines.
Rabbi Ariel Sadwin, Director of Agudath Israel’s Federal Constituents Services department stated: “We commend OPM for their sensitivity in crafting a memo that identifies and protects areas of religious observance that resonate so strongly with our community, and we welcome their invitation to provide input to further enhance these guidelines and their implementation.”
Daniel Kaminetsky, Esq., Agudath Israel’s general counsel, observed: “I receive hundreds of calls from employees whose religious needs are not being accommodated. It is wonderful to see guidance from the Executive branch that recognizes and is sensitive to the struggle religious individuals have in observing and preparing for their holidays. We sincerely hope that other employers sit up and take notice of the steps this administration is taking to protect religious liberties that are guaranteed by the Constitution so that reasonable accommodation of religious requirements becomes the norm.”