Supporting your Muslim employees during Ramadan is key, to create a workspace that is inclusive and understanding of people’s religious beliefs. This is a time of worship, service, fasting, communal gathering and real change for people to connect to their faith. As a result, people’s routines do change during this time, including additional prayer and also fasting. Some amendments may need to be made to their working day in order to accommodate that, so we’re here to introduce a few of the simple changes you can make as an employer to help support your employees through this important time in the year.
Give People Space To Communicate Their Needs
Firstly, everyone is different, and so it’s best for you to create space for your employees specifically to communicate their needs. Ramadan may look slightly different to different people, so it’s worth sending out an email with the option for anonymous or non-anonymous responses, so that your employees can openly communicate what it is they need in terms of flexibility during this period.
Provide A Clean, Private Space For Prayer
If you have muslim employees who pray throughout the day, you should already have this, but a consideration should definitely be to have a clean, private space available for prayer. Many muslim people will pray more during Ramadan, usually 5 times per day then some additional prayers, so providing them with the space to do this in private is necessary.
Allow Flexibility For Prayer and Holy Periods
Prior to Ramadan, you should also communicate with your Muslim employees to ensure they have the flexibility they need during Ramadan for their prayers, as well as general working hours. Making sure your employees feel comfortable praying throughout the day if they are doing so is really important, however you should also provide flexible working if your employee would find it helpful.
During Ramadan, Muslims don’t eat after sunrise or before sunset, and so for most of the working day, they won’t be eating or drinking anything at all. As a result, they may begin to lack energy towards the end of the day, and so may prefer to start and finish work earlier so more of the working day is when they feel more full and hydrated. Other employees may prefer to start and finish work later, so they’ll be able to eat after sunset (Iftar) and then work for a few more hours.
Consider Giving Eid Gifts
If your company gives out Christmas gifts, you should also give out Eid Gifts, as this is such an important time in Islam for people to connect to their faith, as well as show gratitude to their friends, families and community. So, it will be really special if you provide gifts to help with the celebrations. You could opt for something really personal, like an Arabic name necklace, or you could get a gift hamper with delicious sweet treats. There are so many options, but you should be helping your employees to celebrate this special time of year.
