Anyone get it approved, if so what happens in The meeting with ER.
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Wells Fargo is looking for people to let go without paying severance. If they make the vaccine mandatory they will definitely fire you if you don't get the vaccine instead of giving you an exception.
That said, I doubt they'll make it mandatory anyway.
"Heavy emphasis on "asking you", they can ask all they want, but they can't get PHI from your healthcare provider or insurer without your consent"
Of course they can't get info from your HC provider or HC insurer without your consent - that is what HIPAA does provide for. However, they can and do ask you directly for PHI as a condition of employment and that is completely legal. The request to disclose vax status is just such an instance, and you can refuse. But they can also then create consequences.
The OP wants to know what will happen if they apply for RE. The fact is that there is an evaluation done by the ER consultant to assess whether there is basis for RE. Whether you just got religion or had it for a long time - you'll improve your chances of RE if you demonstrate a pattern of behavior consistent with your claim.
Cases are now making their way through the courts where employees are suing for wrongful termination because of an employer's vax mandate and not allowing RE. Watch carefully.
Heavy emphasis on "asking you", they can ask all they want, but they can't get PHI from your healthcare provider or insurer without your consent. Sooo, yeah. Even if you chose to disclose this allegedly damning information, again, there's no timeline on deeply help beliefs. If you got a flu vaccine 8 years ago it has no bearing on anything that's happened since. Epiphanies happen all the time. Good luck proving that they didn't.
"HIPAA applies in all situations,"
no, it doesn't. HIPAA has nothing to do with employers asking you for health information. Look it up.
"This is part of how you demonstrate a "sincere" belief"
Yeah, you really can't be compelled to disclose PHI. You can do it willingly, but you can't be forced. HIPAA applies in all situations, the only exception is infectious disease, but the required questions would have to be related specifically to the condition in question. All the rest of your medical history is private including what medications you may or may not be taking, or may or may not have taken. Nunya is the answer. Also, there's no time limit on deeply held beliefs. You could come to one tomorrow, it doesn't make it any less valid than one that is 50 years old.
Those that are gleefully hoping for 'gotcha' questions from the local commissar should be ashamed of themselves. The people you intend to be victimized did nothing to you, nor can they, if pharma is to be believed...and yet you're eager to throw on the arm bands. We literally have concentration camps in Germany (again!), Austria, and Australia, and you types just can't WAIT until they build them here. Disgusting.
Given the posting from the people here who would seek one, sincerity is not their strong suit.
to the question of the OP: at present, you won't get a RE for anything, since there isn't a vaccine mandate.
Now for those who want to start preparing your cases assuming that a mandate is coming - whatever belief you claim that prevents you from accepting vaccinations and/or testing - be prepared to articulate that as well as demonstrate how you have followed that same reasoning/belief in all of your medical practices... not just related to covid. This is part of how you demonstrate a "sincere" belief.
The thread doesn’t say what the person is seeking a religious exemption from, but does ask if anyone has gotten one already.
I’m pretty sure no religious exemption has been granted to an employee for a COVID vaccine mandate that doesn’t exist at WF.
Feel free to correct me anyone that has successfully been granted a religious exemption for this reason at WF?
It's good to point out that sincerely-held beliefs do not necessarily need to be long-held. While I've known for years what's going on with transhumanism (and have a history of refusing vaccines prior to Covid), I can understand why so many people are new to all of this. People are finally waking up to see how Biblical prophesy, written thousands of years ago, is unfolding in this very moment. Revival is here!
@1ddr It's scientifically proven that the "divine" is just a mental shortcut for handling the unexplainable. Evolution provided you with a lot of tools to survive. Eventually, you need to grow up and move beyond the simplest ones.
The phrase "religious exemption" wouldn't exist if our Rights magically vanished when we visit an employer. And yes, the whole thread is really about a hypothetical situation where WF adopts a mandate. Or, I suppose, if someone wanted to be able to do company travel without taking dr-gs. I imagine the # of people seeking those when travel is voluntary is very low.
I think you’ll find it really hard to get a religious exemption approved regarding returning to the office if you ever worked in the office before.
Once again, Wells has no vaccine mandate, so no need to grant a religious exemption from getting a vaccine, as it’s not required, and reasonable accommodations are being provided in instances where being documented as fully vaccinated is required.
Also everyone spouting about the first amendment, Wells Fargo isn’t the government, and its policies are not laws, you’re barking up the wrong legal tree.
Happy holidays, get out there and celebrate.
Is this like saying you believe in Festivis?
Bold assertion. Evidence? or are you taking it on...faith?
What you prefer isn't relevant when we're talking about someone else's religious freedom. You can think it's a 'joke' all you want, no one really cares and it doesn't change the fact that the 1st Amendment exists.
Any other human Rights you'd like done away with because they are a 'joke'? Or just that one?
I guess one benefit with covid vaccines is that so many new people have found religion.
When you submit a religious accommodation, an Employee Relations (ER) Consultant will be assigned to your case, and that person will send you a meeting invite. During the meeting you will be asked questions wherein the person is trying to determine whether or not your beliefs are sincerely held, how long you have had your beliefs, what specifically in the religion prevents you from meeting the requirement, and type of accommodation you are seeking. You will be asked what religion you are. Keep in mind that even if you belong to a certain religious group, you are able to have beliefs, observances, and practices that other people in the same religious group don’t necessarily follow.
There are numerous examples in the Bible where God has given instruction to just one person, or a couple of people. If you believe something is the work of satan, and therefore cannot do it (for example, testing), then you would have reason to pursue an accommodation. My advice would be to think about what it is you truly oppose, and where that is coming from (i.e. is there a scriptural basis, or other religious belief). You aren’t required to become a theologian in order to receive an accommodation. Maybe your beliefs are new because Covid has caused you to examine your heart, and reflect on what’s important.
I also recommend becoming familiar with Title Act VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and EEOC guidance pertaining to religious accommodations. The EEOC guidance was updated 10/25/21.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission describes religious discrimination in their Compliance Manual Section on Religious Discrimination in Section 12(A)(1). Here is what it says, “Title VII defines “religion” to include “all aspects of religious observance and practice as well as belief,” not just practices that are mandated or prohibited by a tenet of the individual’s faith. Religion includes not only traditional, organized religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism, but also religious beliefs that are new, uncommon, not part of a formal church or sect, only subscribed to by a small number of people, or that seem illogical or unreasonable to others. Further, a person’s religious beliefs “need not be confined in either source or content to traditional or parochial concepts of religion.” A belief is “religious” for Title VII purposes if it is “religious” in the person’s “own scheme of things,” i.e., it is a “sincere and meaningful” belief that “occupies a place in the life of its possessor parallel to that filled by . . . God.” The Supreme Court has made it clear that it is not a court’s role to determine the reasonableness of an individual’s religious beliefs, and that “religious beliefs need not be acceptable, logical, consistent, or comprehensible to others in order to merit First Amendment protection.” An employee’s belief, observance, or practice can be “religious” under Title VII even if the employee is affiliated with a religious group that does not espouse or recognize that individual’s belief, observance, or practice, or if few – or no – other people adhere to it.”
@rmb not at all. All religion is a joke to me, I prefer facts and evidence-based reality.
Not the reality made up by some delusional author thousands of years ago.
Bigot much? Good grief. Go tell it to the Supreme Court.
Just because you still believe in imaginary friends as an adult is no reason to be given special status.
Employers would need an objective reason to question an employee's beliefs. It's not 'prove it or you get denied', because these are things that literally can't be proven. I mean, what do you want, an email from God saying that the employee is part of the cool kids club? It's case law that you don't have to belong to an organized church so, what are you asking for and what's the objective reason for the doubt? "Oh, someone might be lying" isn't an objective reason for anything.
Actually, it doesn't require a name, merely that it be a deeply held religious belief system. At least, that's what the courts say. Mine does have a name, but I don't particularly feel like sharing. Either way, the Pope isn't part of my religion.
so they have stated that you don't have to get the vaccine but then you have to get tested on a regular basis. you also cannot go on business travel without vaccination which i don't think requires an accommodation. might put you at a disadvantage but then you'll get the crappier assignments. there is a word you're forgetting "reasonable" accommodation. the company isn't required to make it a fully equal playfield for every nuance.
as someone pointed out, the pope not only has been vaccinated, but he has been encouraging vaccination. same with religious leaders of just about every religion. so, very curious what about the religious beliefs are reason for an accommodation. you're probably going to have to do better than just stating "its against my religious beliefs" and expecting that to fly - politics / political beliefs are not the same as religious -- just saying because it sounds like a lot of people on this site do not know the difference.
My imaginary friend says I don’t have to work Mondays, and I require three hour lunches for prayer. Also cannot be in the same room as heretics or infidels.
I would imagine they want to understand if this belief is consistent with the beliefs of the religion and with your prior requests. I.e., it wouldn’t be consistent with Catholicism to claim I cannot work on Fridays because it violates my religious beliefs, but it may be consistent if I say I cannot attend a work birthday party because I am JW and it violates my beliefs. You cannot just claim “it’s against my religion without evidence to back it up.”
religious accommodation for what exactly? RE are for vaccine mandates - WF is not requiring vaccination (at least not yet). There's no such thing as RE for RTO. Lawsuits about RE are all because an employer or government has mandated vaccinations.
Medical accommodation for RTO is different - there you are proving you have a medical condition that makes it sufficiently dangerous for you to commute and/or be in the office - and your job has to be one where remote work is considered a "reasonable" accommodation (I.e you can still perform your duties).
OP, you will not get an answer to your question here. Answers so far are derailed your topic to a completely non- related stream of nonsense. Sorry about that. I have the same question as you do...
Heh the pope is probably the false prophet in Revelation 13:11-18 and a leader of the "New Babylon" system - definitely not the spokesperson for Biblical Christianity.
Oh good, the same goes for birth control and ab-----n I assume. Hooray!
Before this thread goes down the sh----er, the deal with Catholics is despite what anyone says up to and including the Pope, what you do is based on your own conscience. The Pope even signed a letter saying follow your conscience.
All you ret-rds that think we're a bunch of sheep that just take orders from the Vatican, it ain't like that.
@ksu+1ermcncb so what is the Religion? The highest priest in the world is vaccinated. So I am simply asking what is your religion? If you are going to use a religious exemption it will require a name. So what is it?
The Pope doesn't decide what's acceptable religious practice for everyone on the planet.
I got approved for medical exemption to not RTO. It was just a letter required from my dr saying I am required to stay at home due to my condition. They met with my manager and it was approved.
For religious exemption, what is your religion? because the Pope is vaccinated. So I’m trying to understand what qualifies.