The Orthodox Union Advocacy Center (OUA) welcomed new guidance from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) encouraging federal agencies to approve religious accommodations for federal workers, including telework and flexible scheduling.

OU Advocacy worked with OPM to devise these accommodations, in accordance with the recent Groff v. DeJoy ruling, stating that employers must accommodate religious practice unless it causes the employer “undue hardship.”

In the context of the Trump Administration’s policies requiring federal workers to return to in-person work, the OPM memo directs agencies to consider telework to accommodate religious practices, like the Sabbath or holiday observance, scheduled prayers, services, meditation, fasting, or other obligations. Importantly, the OPM guidance recognizes that remote and telework arrangements may be used for the eve of a holiday — something important to Orthodox Jewish employees.

“No one should have to choose between public service and their faith,” said Nathan Diament, Executive Director of the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center. “We worked closely with OPM on this policy, and we appreciate that it has been issued now, about two months before Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and the other holy days that will be observed in the Fall. This gives federal workers who are observant Jews plenty of time to work with their supervisors and plan their work schedules and accommodations. We are very thankful that President Trump and his Administration have prioritized the promotion of religious liberty, and this guidance is one practical piece of that fundamental freedom. We thank OPM Director Scott Kupor and his team for their partnership and leadership on this important matter.”