Working in aviation when you need certain days off for religious observances

K

ktsai91

Well-Known Member
Hey guys. Before I start asking this question, I am not religious or anything like that. I just thought of a potential conflict a person would come across if they are religious and wanting to become a commercial or airline pilot, or any aviation job directly involving the operation of aviation (ATC, Dispatch, etc.) I cannot find any answer to this online so I will ask this question here.

Is it possible that an aviation employer would allow a person who is religious to have certain days off, like if a person is Jewish, could that person have one of their scheduled days off on a Friday for the Jewish Sabbath? I know aviation is a 24/7 operation but would it be a reasonable for an employer to make a reasonable accommodation to a religious person if they need a certain day off or would it cause an undue burden on the employer? I believe there is a labor law in the U.S. that a employer must make reasonable accommodations to an employee if they need a certain day off for religious observances but in a 24/7 operation would that cause an undue burden on the employer?
 
ktsai91 said:
Hey guys. Before I start asking this question, I am not religious or anything like that. I just thought of a potential conflict a person would come across if they are religious and wanting to become a commercial or airline pilot, or any aviation job directly involving the operation of aviation (ATC, Dispatch, etc.) I cannot find any answer to this online so I will ask this question here.

Is it possible that an aviation employer would allow a person who is religious to have certain days off, like if a person is Jewish, could that person have one of their scheduled days off on a Friday for the Jewish Sabbath? I know aviation is a 24/7 operation but would it be a reasonable for an employer to make a reasonable accommodation to a religious person if they need a certain day off or would it cause an undue burden on the employer? I believe there is a labor law in the U.S. that a employer must make reasonable accommodations to an employee if they need a certain day off for religious observances but in a 24/7 operation would that cause an undue burden on the employer?
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In general, no. One of the conditions of employment are the ability to work those days.

You're always free to bid certain days off, trip trade, etc in order to satisfy your religious edicts, but most large companies don't have accommodations for such.

Besides, wouldn't everyone be a conservative Christian every Christmas, Muslim during Ramadan, Orthodox Jewish during Shabbot and Pagan every Solstice? :)

Really, the best bet is a small private, employer that shares the same religious traditions in their business practices.

Like I tell the novice traveler that pulls the whole "OH POOR DEAR HAAAAAAAART" as they're getting on my jet on Christmas, "You guys stop buying tickets to fly on Christmas, I still don't get the day off because we have to position to fly you out on the 26th"
 
A day is just another day. I hope that if my deity was smart enough to create an entire universe they are smart enough to see me practice my religion on a Tuesday instead of a Saturday/Sunday because I have to do a BIS turn that day. Same thing goes for holidays too. I have no problem with having a huge thanksgiving dinner on November 7th instead of the 26th because that's when I have enough time off to have everybody travel in from out of town. No matter what I'll still celebrate a day to be thankful for the fact that I have a job that allows me to fly my parents up from PHX for free and provide the big dinner that we all will have. All about the perspective you choose to have about any situation.
 
Holidays ON the holidays are terrible. I'd rather have Christmas on the 21st so at least there's something on TV to watch other than an idiotic Yule log that evening. Plus, the bars are open so when I'm invariably bored by 1730, I can go get a cocktail.

I love to cook and when I have Thanksgiving ON Thanksgiving, I generally end up forgetting something and the damned grocery store is closed.
 
Derg said:
Holidays ON the holidays are terrible. I'd rather have Christmas on the 21st so at least there's something on TV to watch other than an idiotic Yule log that evening. Plus, the bars are open so when I'm invariably bored by 1730, I can go get a cocktail.

I love to cook and when I have Thanksgiving ON Thanksgiving, I generally end up forgetting something and the damned grocery store is closed.
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You mean to tell me you don't like that Thanksgiving Day parade with all the puppets and fake human beings on television?! And who can forget Christmas without "A Christmas Story" playing on every single television..........
;)
 
Derg said:
Holidays ON the holidays are terrible. I'd rather have Christmas on the 21st so at least there's something on TV to watch other than an idiotic Yule log that evening. Plus, the bars are open so when I'm invariably bored by 1730, I can go get a cocktail.

I love to cook and when I have Thanksgiving ON Thanksgiving, I generally end up forgetting something and the damned grocery store is closed.
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That's why we give thanks for the blessed Boston Market.

Richman
 
A lot of aviation jobs require around the clock flying, and somebody has to do it... They make it pretty clear when you sign up for the job.
 
WHEN I miss a holiday at home with the family and cousins, I give some thanks to that same God everyone else is on their way to church twice a year to hear about, because my work family watches over that airliner. Someone I know, love, or care about is probably on board.

The pilots fly the aircraft that the mechanics cleared OK, so the dispatchers can release it, and those controllers can watch over it enroute. That thing got fueled and loaded up (and de-iced, this time of year) by the ground ops agents making seriously stupid low wages below wing.

Ramp, ATC, dispatch, pilot, mechanic, and those who continue to work behind the scenes...It's a family. We're all in this together.

- B
 
I probably going to leave my current job because I want to be home for the birth of my first child. It isn't that the days shouldn't matter to you. It is just that in aviation the days that matter to you don't matter to anyone else.
 
BEEF SUPREME said:
I probably going to leave my current job because I want to be home for the birth of my first child. It isn't that the days shouldn't matter to you. It is just that in aviation the days that matter to you don't matter to anyone else.
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The "wifely area" is going to look way scarier than the baby book alludes to, she's going to cuss at you, speak ill of one of your parents, then it's going to come out. Once they get it wiped down, pat yourself on the back at your beautiful creation!

See, I just saved you a job search. :)
 
At my old shop the most senior guy at the company would use about half of his vacation every year for religious holidays (most a single day or night at a time). He'd submit for vacation all the same and note what it was on the vacation request. Never had a problem getting a particular day off, but I wouldn't expect any employer to do more than offer to do that and burn your vacation days here or there.

Absolutely no way I would see anyone guaranteeing you every Sunday or whatever off. "Pursuant to the needs of the service."
 
Actually, heh, here's the thing (See, I pulled a @SpiceWeasel here)

If airlines did begin to issue religious exemptions to the policy manual, I'd simply create my own.

Tax free!

The Universal Church of the Derg can only work one single 5-day trip per month on a rolling schedule and it is an edict that I can only let the Grand Poobah bid for me. All standard Christian, Judaic, Islamic, Pagan holidays we have an inalienable codeshare with so we share those same holidays. All of them. All legs require crew meals. All first officers are required to tell me how awesome I am after a whopping 19 months on the job.

:sarcasm: :)
 
We had one pilot that had something worked out when he was hired. But we needed him to work on whatever day it was, and he ended up quitting. So it probably doesnt work too well.
 
Derg said:
The "wifely area" is going to look way scarier than the baby book alludes to, she's going to cuss at you, speak ill of one of your parents, then it's going to come out. Once they get it wiped down, pat yourself on the back at your beautiful creation!

See, I just saved you a job search. :)
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So what am I not supposed to ask pilots for advice on again?
 
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