What are the rights of an employee who is asking for time off in order to keep annual "Holy Days" and is seeking time off for spiritual belief purposes?

There is no specific provision in this jurisdiction for an employee to take time off to keep annual “Holy Days” or to take time off for spiritual belief purposes.

In considering an employee's request to take time off to celebrate a religious holiday or for spiritual belief purposes, an employer should have regard to the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2008 and, more particularly, its prohibition on discrimination on the grounds of religion.

In a recent decision in the UK, it was held that employers are not required to accommodate religious worship during working hours if it could significantly damage their business and if reasonable alternatives were available to the employee. In that case it