Chapter 3 – Personnel, Training, and Employee Relations

31010.8.1 The Interactive Process

• Assistant EEOEqual Employment Opportunity Office (see Office of Internal Affairs) Coordinators, EEOEqual Employment Opportunity Office (see Office of Internal Affairs) Coordinators, and hiring authorities shall engage in a timely, good faith interactive process with the employee requesting a religious accommodation. The interactive process requires employer and employee flexibility and cooperation in informal discussions. An employer is not required to provide the specific accommodation requested by the employee. An employer is also not required to provide an accommodation, if the accommodation creates an undue hardship for the employer, or if the accommodation results in the segregation of the requesting employee from other employees or the public. (See Government Code, Section 12940 [l][2]). If the requested accommodation creates an undue hardship for the Department, the hiring authority shall engage in the interactive process with the employee to determine if there is an alternative accommodation to address the employee’s religious needs. Assistant EEOEqual Employment Opportunity Office (see Office of Internal Affairs) Coordinators, EEOEqual Employment Opportunity Office (see Office of Internal Affairs) Coordinators, and hiring authorities shall consult with OCROffice of Civil Rights (see OIA) before making a final decision.