With thanks to Islam Jalaita, Inclusion and Diversity Officer at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, who writes:
Ramadan is the holiest month of the year for people of Muslim faith and this year will start on 22 or 23 March 2023 and will end on 20 or 21 April 2023, with Eid-al-Fitr celebrations the next day. Ramadan involves fasting, prayer, reading the Qur’an, refraining from bad behaviour and doing acts of charity. During this time most people fast from dawn until dusk, with many doing it alongside their job. The morning meal is normally eaten before dawn around 4am and most people won’t break their fast until about 6.30pm. That’s more than 14 hours without food or drink (no water too).
This can be challenging at work so it’s really important for us to be mindful of our Muslim colleagues and service users’ needs if they are observing Ramadan. You can find out more information on Ramadan on the Muslim Council of Britain website. The articles below have practical suggestions for providing a pleasant and supportive working environment for Muslim colleagues. Many of the suggestions are also relevant to arrangements for service users.
- Ramadan at work: HR best practice.
- How to support your Muslim coworkers who are fasting during Ramadan.
What is Ramadan? https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=6lZ8Bv08CnY&app=desktop