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If you are wondering how best to support your employees who are observing the Islamic month, with understanding and sensitivity, here is a quick guide of key considerations and steps.
The Islamic month of Ramadan 2024 is coming soon, marking a month of fasting, prayer, resilience and reflection for many of our Muslim colleagues.
With such cultural significance, this month calls for more understanding and awareness. If you are wondering how to best navigate Ramadan among your workforce, Arina Sofiah has come up with a quick guide of key considerations and steps.
Supportive leadership
The best place to start is at the top. As the very basis, inculcate a culture of understanding, inclusivity, and sensitivity amongst leaders. Start by educating leaders on the significance of Ramadan, and what practices it entails beyond surface-level knowledge. It is crucial to understand key facts, such as meal & prayer timings, and how fasting may impact an individual's energy levels and focus.
This could encourage them to take proactive informed steps to accommodate employees observing Ramadan, such as organising iftar (breaking fast) gatherings, encouraging open communication about individual needs, and ensuring that the work environment is respectful and accommodating during this sacred month.
By fostering a culture of understanding and inclusivity from the top down, leaders can transform the workplace into a space where employees feel valued and respected during the month. Beyond enhancing the overall work experience for all employees, such a shift further reinforces the organisation's commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Inclusive workplace initiatives
To put the supportive leadership into practice, explore how your organisation can actively promote inclusivity during Ramadan by implementing initiatives to accommodate employees observing Ramadan.
Some initiatives include flexible working hours, which can enable employees to tailor their work schedules to align with existing fasting and prayer routines. Clean designated prayer spots within the workplace can also signify the organisation's commitment to religious inclusivity. These spaces provide employees with a dedicated room for their daily prayers, fostering a sense of belonging and respect for diverse religious practices.
Some other ideas include awareness programmes about Ramadan traditions or employee resource groups.
Employee perspectives
Take the time to speak to employees observing Ramadan to understand their perspective. Approach them with sensitivity, assuring them that your goal is to create a supportive environment to best meet their needs — this way you can gain awareness of their personal challenges and how they would best like their workplace to contribute to making the fasting period more manageable. By identifying individual preferences, you can tailor solutions that cater to the diverse workforce.
Such transparent conversations are an opportunity to build trust and connection with your employees. Demonstrating a sincere interest in their identity and wellbeing fosters a sense of belonging, reassuring employees that their needs are being acknowledged.
Cross-cultural celebration
Cross-cultural celebrations can be a powerful way to strengthen bonds among employees from various backgrounds. Cultivating an inclusive workplace goes beyond merely acknowledging differences; it also means actively celebrating and embracing diverse cultures.
Mark out time to celebrate together, regardless of religion or culture. This can include having a iftar together, or having employees bring in traditional dishes.
With that, HRO would like to wish everyone observing Ramadan a blessed and fulfilling month. May you find strength in the collective support of your loved ones and colleagues. Ramadan Mubarak to all!
Lead image / 123rf.com
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