Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and HR

This year, Ramadan began on the 22nd of March 2023. During Ramadan, many Muslims will be fasting during the daylight hours, which may impact their experience at work. This is especially true for those who will be carrying out physically taxing or tiring duties. This also may affect when they can work, for example since they are only permitted to eat around dawn or sunset, they may not be able to work at these times.

The end of Ramadan is Eid al-Fitr, which occurs on the night of the 21st of April 2023, and the morning of the 22nd of April 2023 this year. What can support can you offer your Muslim employees through what is a very important time for them?

Many will wish to spend Eid with their families, and will therefore often submit holiday requests for this time. You should work with the employees to try to grant these requests where possible. If it is not possible to allow them to take annual leave, you could explore one of the following options:

· Organise a shift swap between employees,

· Allow them to work different hours and make up time later,

· Change start or finish times,

· Allow them to work from home,

· Allow additional or longer breaks.

Whichever approach you take, it is important that you consider it to ensure it’s fair, and consistent with how other similar cases are dealt with. You should speak with the employee and allow them to play a role in the decision-making process.