Labor law question- religious accomodation?

are there any laws that say employers must allow employees to take a day off if thier religion requires it (without pay if necessary)? Specifically, governement employees?

i don't mean a paid day off, just not a "work or you're fired" situation. just the right to get the day to use personal leave, or vacation time, not being forced to work

Seperation of church and state, only option is the free usage of the time designated as personal time for use in religious observations not running as federal or local holicays

where?

laws differ by country and state/province

line of work matters as well -- my brother-in-law is a physician and on call for duty on holidays no matter what the religious wallahs say

Not if that day off severly affects the normal course of that business.

Good question.

Ya know what?

I kinda think that government employees actually get too damned

many 'days off' anyway! Government employees and banking

employees seem to get many many more days off than any others

that I know of!

So.... stop your whining!

I have absolutely no sympathy for you, what-so-ever!

Employers in the U.S. no longer have to give holidays off for religious reasons. So most people take a personal or sick day.
Government employees don't give it off as far as I know. And they should, in my opinion, work on Christmas and Easter.

NO.
However, you can take a "personal day" if you need it.
Otherwise, if you are a person with a religion that requires lots of unusual observances, it might be a good idea to make that clear upfront at job interviews and make sure you can be accomodated.
I personally have had to work on each and every holiday of my religion, and I am sure God does not get upset with you if your job requires it. (I am a doctor) I think God cares about your heart more than he cares about "religious duties."