Orthodox Jews and members of other religious minorities who must take time off from their jobs because of religious observance will no longer have to lose pay or vacation time under legislation introduced by Rep. Stephen J. Solarz (D.NY) which overwhelmingly passed the House.
The legislation, which had the support of the Administration, would make it possible for federal employes to make up missed time by either coming in early or staying at their jobs later on days on which their religious obligations did not interfere with their work.
Solarz, a member of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee, which has jurisdiction over the legislation, held hearings on the bill earlier this year at which several Orthodox Jews testified that they had less than two or three days vocation, over the course of the past several years, because their normal vacation time was used to compensate for time lost due to their religious obligations.
The Solarz bill would also waive for observant employes the present civil service requirement that government employes working more than the normal work week must be paid overtime pay. The Civil Service Commission has refused to approve overtime pay for observant employes working extra hours to make up for time off for religious needs.
The Solarz legislation, which passed the House by a vote of 288 to 59, now moves to the Senate. Solarz stated he was confident that his bill would be signed into law by early summer.
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