Religious observances occur year-round. With Ramadan recently past and Rosh Hashanah soon to come, faculty and staff are reminded that religious diversity is part of Cornell's commitment to diversity and inclusion and encouraged to take religious observances into account when planning events, meetings, programs, meals and travel.

To facilitate the planning process, consult the Cornell United Religious Work website. This website lists dates of religious observances, along with such restrictions as fasting (with implications for event planning), limitations on working (absences from school or work should be excused) and other practices that may pose difficulties in the work or educational environment.

A partial list of academic year 2011-12 holidays:

Rosh Hashanah: Sept. 28-30

Yom Kippur: Oct. 7-8

Eid al Adha: Nov. 6-7

Hanukkah: Dec. 20-28

Christmas: Dec. 25

Ash Wednesday: Feb. 22

Passover: April 6-14

Good Friday: April 6

Good Friday (Eastern Orthodox): April 13

Easter: April 8

Easter (Eastern Orthodox): April 15

Members of the Cornell community are asked to consult the religious accommodation policy http://www.hr.cornell.edu/policies/all/religious_accommodation.html to help resolve any conflict between an employee's request for religious observance and the business needs of the department. An FAQ on the religious accommodation policy is at https://www.hr.cornell.edu/policies/all/religious_accommodation_faqs.html.

Flexible work schedules may be employed to accommodate religious observances (see flex policy at http://www.dfa.cornell.edu/dfa/treasurer/policyoffice/policies/volumes/humanresources/flexibility.cfm). If eligible, faculty and staff may also request the use of vacation or personal time for religious observances. (See the "Time Away From Work" policy at http://www.dfa.cornell.edu/dfa/treasurer/policyoffice/policies/volumes/humanresources/timeaway.cfm). Departments are not required to grant paid time for religious observances.

Contact the Office of Workforce Policy and Labor Relations at 607-254-7232 or email equalopportunity@cornell.edu with questions.