Workplace Tips for Ramadan.

Society Business and Career
1

First and foremost,

Kul Aam wa Antum Bekhair… Ramadan Mubarak to all.

Tomorrow happens to be the first workday for me after the start of Ramadan, and I thought I’d ask what tips can we all share with one another from our past experiences to make our time at work more conducive while we fast. Afterall, in the West, social endurance during sawm is often more difficult than physical endurance.

Some of the questions to get us started:

  • How would you best explain your special requests during this month to your colleagues?
  • How would you excuse yourself from supper at a meeting?
  • What would you say to take time-off for iftaar

…etc.

Besides the above-mentioned, if you have any other workplace tips for the month of Ramadan, please post them here.

Cheers,
Umar.

2

Dont know if you have flexible work hours, but it would be ideal to leave for work right after sehri/subh, pray dhur during lunch break, and leave for home around 4pm. This will leave plenty of time for asr/rest/ & cooking iftar.

3

I have briefed my colleagues about Ramadan and what it is about. So there is no need to make excuses at lunch and no need to explain why I'd come into office so early and of course leave early as well.

4

^ arey yaar... I wasn't talking about "making excuses", but was asking about "excusing yourself"...

I mean, would you say - "I'm afraid I can't eat cuz I'm fasting"
or is there a better way of putting it.

I agree though that informing your colleagues of Ramadan is imperative!

5

Get your collegues to join you for a day of fasting. Best way to answer any or all questions they might have.

6

Actually make that a sponsored day of fasting for raising money for charity and have a collective iftari at a local mosque instead of dinner/supper.

7

^^ that’s actually a very kewl idea :k: if you work in a congenial atmosphere with friendly bosses and such.

hmmm… definitely gives my HR colleagues something to think about.

8

My approach has always been to be open and make a point of telling my colleagues that I will be fasting for the next 30 day etc. That way, in meetings etc they know the score - its a bit difficult when you are travelling etc but you can get by.

I also do the same when I go to Jummah - let them know I will be at the mosque for Friday prayers.

It has go to the point where some Fridays, my work mates will remind me that Im running late for the mosque!

Also one Ramadhan I had a "ramadhan sympathiser" where a different person in the office tried fasting with me (they just decided to do it!!).

Crazy cos they are all non-muslims!