RAMADAN ADVICE

Shazad Banaras, commercial solicitor at Hatchers LLP provides insight on Ramadan

We all have a role in creating an inclusive and supportive workplace culture that acknowledges the needs of all employees, including those observing Ramadan.

A 2021 survey of British Muslims on support from employers during Ramadan found that the most supportive adjustment (desired by 69% of recipients) was flexible shift patterns, followed by team members understanding what Ramadan means to them (60%), and annual leave for the final days of Ramadan (58%).

Ramadan, the holiest month on the Islamic calendar, begins this week, Muslims all over the world will once again fast from sunrise to sunset.

Muslims abstain from eating and drinking during daylight hours and dedicate moments of each day to deep reflection and prayers, among other practices. Muslims will usually wake up early to eat a pre-dawn meal, and they break their fast with a meal referred to as iftar.

Tips for colleagues

• Make an effort to learn why your colleagues are fasting and observing Ramadan.

• Ask someone how their fast is going. It is fine to be curious and to show interest or support.

• Be understanding if your colleagues are not their usual, bubbly selves. Fasting can take a huge toll on someone’s energy levels.

• Be aware that a Muslim may not be fasting at all or for certain periods of the month. Ramadan is never meant to cause harm to anyone and therefore there are many exemptions to fasting.

• If your workload allows you to do so, ask your colleagues if there is anything you can do to help them out in any way.

Tips for employers

• If your employees’ workdays allow it, offer them to alter the start and finishing time of their day.

• If your workplace or organisation allows working from home or has a ‘work from where it’s best’ policy, or even if you currently don’t, but have successfully had policies like these in the past, continue to implement these policies during Ramadan.

• Respect annual leave requests during the month of Ramadan.

• Be mindful of timetables when you schedule meetings.

• Send an email to everyone in the organisation a few days before Ramadan starts to let everyone know it is starting, that you have colleagues that will be observing, and that this is a time for all to celebrate the diversity in your organisation.

Please feel free to contact Shazad Banaras should you want to know more on the contact details below. 

Shazad Banaras

email: s.banaras@hatchers.co.uk

Office : 1 Welsh Bridge

Frankwell

Shrewsbury

Shropshire SY3 8JY.

Tel: 01743 248545