How to support your Muslim employees during Ramadan

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is a sacred month for over 1.8 billion Muslims across the globe. To mark this month Muslims fast during daylight hours from food, drink and sexual relations. During this month, Muslims will also engage in extra worship and prayer as well as engaging in many communal activities.

When is Ramadan?

Ramadan will start when the new crescent mood is sighted on 12^th April 2021. Ramadan is expected to last until 12^th May 2021.

How long does a fast last?

The average fast will be approximately 16 hours, with a start time of around 4am and sunset being after 8pm.

How you can support your Muslim employees during Ramadan?

During this time, it is important to be mindful that your employee may have/be suffering from the following:

• Lack of Sleep – During Ramadan, Muslims observe extra prayers in the evening after they have opened their fast, they must also wake up early to close their fast, this can lead to lack of sleep or a disturbed sleep pattern.
• Lack of energy – As your employees will be consuming less food, they will naturally have less energy and concentration levels will be lower at certain times in the day.

It is also important to note that everyone will have a different experience during Ramadan so speaking to your employees to understand what challenges they feel they may face throughout the month will allow you to provide them with the best working environment.

There are a few things as an employee that you could consider to make Ramadan more comfortable for your employees:

• Be flexible with working hours – some people may choose to work at different times when they feel they are most productive. Allow your employees the opportunity to have flexible working hours.
• Working from home – while many employers may already be offering this irrespective of Ramadan, it can really help those that are fasting.
• Consolidate breaks / allow rest bites – in a workplace where flexible / home working is not an option, consider consolidating lunch breaks so an employee can have a shorter day as they may not want a lunch break as they will not be eating. Alternatively, there may be occasions where an employee is not taking any breaks, then we would encourage you to remind them to take a break.

For more tips and information on how you can support your employees even further please see below links:

• https://equalapproach.com/article/supporting-employees-during-ramadan/
• https://www.xperthr.co.uk/faq/what-can-employers-do-to-support-employees-who-are-observing-ramadan-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/164405/
• https://app.croneri.co.uk/feature-articles/five-ways-support-your-employees-during-ramadan