Ramadan and Beyond: Creating Workplaces Where All Employees Feel Seen and Valued

By Naima Khandaker, Ph.D.

A few days ago, a friend sent me two photos from her sons' elementary school.

The first was a banner in the hallway reading, "Ramadan Mubarak!" and the second was a table in the school library showcasing books about Ramadan.

My heart leapt at the thought of the Muslim kids at the school who would pass by the festive displays over the next month—visual representations of the message, "We see you, and you belong here."

It's encouraging for me, as someone who has spent much of my life as a racial and religious minority in most of the spaces I frequent, to witness the progress we're making toward seeing each other. Today,?Juneteenth is recognized as an official public holiday in more than half of states. It's increasingly common to have?haftseen?tables?in public spaces in celebration of Nowruz, or Persian New Year. And during this month of Ramadan, there is?no shortage of resources?on how organizations can support?their Muslim employees, including?this 2023 blog post from EXMI.?

Building on this momentum, the time is ripe for employers to ask themselves, "Do our employees feel seen and valued?"

Specifically, here are a few questions to consider:

• How inclusive are our policies and benefits? Do they meet the needs of our diverse workforce?
• Do our front-line supervisors have the cultural competence and soft skills needed to manage diverse teams?
• Do employees who need accommodations know how to request those, and do they feel comfortable doing so??
• Do we use a?calendar of cultural observances?when planning events?
• Do we as employers work to educate ourselves about the diverse cultures represented in our workforce and the populations we serve??

Are you unsure about the answer to any of those questions? Even the process of wondering is a great opportunity to dig deeper into what your organization currently does, how your employees and other customers feel, and how you can make your organization even more welcoming.

In today's competitive market,?job seekers look for and expect an inclusive workplace. Make sure that yours is one where they are not just tolerated—but truly seen, valued, and supported.?