Supporting employees during Ramadan
Ramadan is celebrated during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The dates change year to year as Islam uses the lunar calendar. Ramadan begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon. This year, Ramadan began on the 2nd of April.
During the holy month of Ramadan observing Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and celebrate in the evenings. The month is also a time for reflection, prayer, and community connection.
While Ramadan is a sacred time, many millions of Muslims around the world abstaining from water and food during daylight must continue a regular work schedule. People adhering to Ramadan customs may find it challenging?to manage work and religious commitments. They expect employers to provide support, understanding, and flexibility throughout the holy month.?
It can be surprisingly simple to provide practitioners with support?
Supporting people during Ramadan:
Educate and inform colleagues about cultural and religious events??
Part of having a diverse and open workplace is ensuring all employees can thrive. Adapting to people’s needs, whether religious or cultural, is key to driving companywide understanding and acceptance of all the individuals who make up an organisation.??
Promoting understanding about cultural celebrations like Ramadan and Eid?helps educate people about their colleagues and builds a more inclusive workplace.?
When people feel a sense of belonging and acceptance in the workplace, they are more likely to stay. According to a March 2021 Muslim Census survey, Muslims are twice as likely to stay with an employer if they are accommodating throughout the month of Ramadan.
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Allow flexible working schedules around cultural and religious events?
During Ramadan, observers eat Iftar, the main evening meal at sunset, and, Suhur, a pre-dawn meal before the day begins.?Daylight fasting impacts people’s energy levels throughout the day. Allowing flexible working can make it easier for people to work when they feel most productive. For example, letting staff start earlier or later or working through lunch break and finishing earlier.
In terms of team support, fasting is likely to influence the productivity of employees during the month of Ramadan. When arranging meetings, it's important to keep staff energy levels in mind. Businesses should make a point of not penalising employees who are unable to attend corporate functions or social activities due to religious or cultural obligations.
Consideration for annual leave around cultural and religious events
Similar to Christmas or Easter, people will request time off over Ramadan and employers should be aware of the need to consider a spike in AL. There may not be public holidays for the month of Ramadan, however, employers should take note to accommodate religious holidays requests.?
At the end of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr is celebrated. Eid al-Fitr is an important time for those observing Ramadan to celebrate with their family and community. As it is based on the sighting of the moon, the exact dates of Eid al-Fitr may not be known until a few hours before and can last between 1 and 3 days. Employers should be aware of when the major religious and cultural holidays occur and consider it in annual planning.??
Conclusion
Communication and understanding play a huge part in any D&I (Diversion and Inclusion) strategy. Speaking to employees about their needs, understanding their personal obligations, and planning ahead helps to create a positive work environment for everyone. That is what is required in supporting those observing Ramadan. If you have any questions about supporting your colleagues through religious and cultural observances, reach out to your HR department.
Guidance Across Cultures: Intercultural Mediation and Translation for Relationships, Learning and Growing Together. Overcoming Linguistic Barriers to Build Bridges of Understanding. Commitment and Tangible Results.
2 年I read your article with joy and pleasure, are words written with great sensitivity and deep research. I feel happy when I find myself in front of emotional understanding and intelligence. That is why I would like to add one point as an observation; the point is, personally, I've always had extraordinary people around me on the job in the Ramadan period, because in my opinion it has been and will always be this way for the simple reason freedom on my part to others in the workplace, my colleagues continue to live their lives as always such as eating, drinking etc.. and especially we who do Ramadan should not make it weigh on the workplace in my opinion. Finally, the mentality of Cpl I like very much and I want to thank for this thought during Ramadan.
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2 年Thank you Cpl! The Diversity and Inclusion I see and receive in this wonderful workplace is absolutely amazing! We are truly a great Place to work! Proud to be a part of Cpl..