How advice companies can accommodate Muslim staff during Ramadan

The Islamic Finance Council UK’s Omar Shaikh says it is important that independent financial adviser businesses recognise that some of their workers will be fasting this month and that they should be given flexibility to allow them to fulfil their work duties and religious obligations. 

The director and board member at UKIFC says: “Advisory firms can help to promote a diverse workforce by accommodating Muslim staff during their holy month.

“Recognising Muslim colleagues are fasting is an important first step. Adjusted sleep patterns and abstaining from food and water during the day can sometimes make staff tired or dehydrated. Often, they will also be visiting the prayer rooms more frequently, so some flexibility and understanding can go a long way.”

Ramadan began earlier this month and involves Muslims fasting from sunrise to sunset for up to 30 days.

One of the ways that IFA companies are helping their workers is by temporarily adapting the working day by offering flexible working hours and the option to work from home. 

Open conversations

Managers at St James’s Palace have been encouraged to have open conversations with employees and to allow temporary adjustments to their working day during Islam’s holiest month. 

SJP head of responsible business analysis and reporting Sandra Mould says: “Faith and how you practice faith can be very personal. We encourage open conversations between line managers and employees to ensure people’s individual needs are supported throughout Ramadan or any time of year. Line managers are able to agree specific adjustments for Ramadan.

"In the past, examples of this have been working from home or working flexible hours to accommodate fasting. Our HR team can provide additional support and guidance to employees and their line managers as required.”

We already offer staff flexible working hours to assist with child and other care responsibilities and we would happily accommodate Muslim staff and the fasting dayScott Gallacher, Rowley Turton

IFA Scott Gallacher echoed the importance of embracing a flexible approach towards all staff. The chartered financial planner and director at Leicester-based Rowley Turton says: “As an equal opportunities employer, we would be more than willing to make appropriate accommodations. 

“We already offer staff flexible working hours to assist with child and other care responsibilities and we would happily accommodate Muslim staff and the fasting day.”

Ramadan is a time when Muslim workers are more likely to pray during their breaks. IFA companies are helping to facilitate this by providing access to prayer rooms and allowing workers to take their breaks during prayer times.

Currently, five SJP offices in the UK have quiet rooms or dedicated multi-faith rooms for employees to use. Some of these spaces were put in place by the business following conversations with employees. 

SJP now has put a greater emphasis on the inclusion of multi-faith facilities on or near its locations as part of its corporate real estate strategy. In fact, it is currently consulting with employees to develop another multi-faith room at its Solihull office. The proposals also include additional amenities such as prayer mats and separate hand and feet washing facilities so that staff have a means to cleanse themselves before praying. 

Supporting Muslim colleagues

Advisory businesses are also running awareness campaigns to help educate all staff on the month of Ramadan. This has included encouraging non-Muslim workers to be mindful of booking working lunches or evening work events with Muslim co-workers during the festival.

Quilter has shared information with workers to help non-Muslim staff learn more about Ramadan and also how they can support their Muslim colleagues during the period.

Tosin James-Odukoya, head of inclusion, diversity and wellbeing at Quilter, says: “To help our colleagues feel supported during the holy month of Ramadan, we have shared all employee communications designed to help them best understand both more about the holiday and how they can support their Muslim colleagues during the period.

“This includes tips and advice on scheduling meetings first thing in the morning, accommodating breaks for prayers or resting during lunchtimes, things to avoid and the benefits of being aware and supporting our Muslim employees.”

She adds that Quilter is also offering greater flexibility to process holiday requests from staff who want to take annual leave for Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. 

We have ensured that managers are aware there may be unscheduled requests for holidays to celebrate Eid and will be offering flexibility to our Muslim employeesTosin James-Odukoya, Quilter

Traditionally, Muslim workers have booked this day off with their annual allowance. However, the exact date is unknown until the night before as it is based on moon sightings. In the past, some work environments prevented workers from having the day off to celebrate with their families because strict company rules had meant that staff needed to give two-week’s notice beforehand.

But now more companies, including Quilter, are allowing greater flexibility to permit workers to have the day off at short notice. 

James-Odukoya says: “We have ensured that managers are aware there may be unscheduled requests for holidays to celebrate Eid and will be offering flexibility to our Muslim employees. 

“We also have plans to celebrate Eid through our employee resource group, the cultural diversity community.”

Financial planning company Progeny is at the forefront of change and even offers a paid day off for religious observations and hybrid working to help staff observe their religious beliefs and still fulfil their work commitments.

Progeny people specialist Kasia Bardyga says: “As part of our leave of absence policy, we offer a paid day off for religious observations and hybrid and agile working also provides flexibility for allowing team members to observe their religious beliefs and fulfil their commitments.

“Our line managers are additionally always encouraged to work in partnership with their teams, to help support our employees with every aspect of their lives, whether this is in a religious, family or personal context.”

Many companies, including SJP, are now better prepared for multiple workers booking the same day off for religious celebrations including Eid al-Fitr, which is expected to be on April 9 this year. 

Mould says: “As a large business with over 2,000 employees, we are generally able to accommodate multiple leave requests that occur on the same day and, as with prior years, we expect no concerns accommodating Eid al-Fitr leave.”

Aamina Zafar is a freelance journalist