Ramadan 2023: Your rights at work

‘It’s important that UNISON’s Muslim members feel supported in the workplace and employers ensure and understand their needs at this spiritual and cherished time’

The holy Muslim month of Ramadan is due to begin on Wednesday 22 March, with the first fast from sunrise to sunset on Thursday 23 March.

Eid-al-Fitr, the celebration that marks the end of Ramadan, is expected to fall on Saturday 22 April. 

During this important holy period for Muslims, UNISON reminds both workers and employers that it is within the Equality Act 2010 for all employers to ensure flexible working and provide reasonable adjustments for workers wishing to observe Ramadan, which includes fasting, prayers, charity, and reflecting on the Quran.

During Ramadan, Muslims spend a period of 30 days abstaining from food and drink, including water, during daylight hours, as a means of celebrating and reflecting on their faith.

Iftar, the meal that breaks the fast when the sun has set, is often shared with family and the local community. Traditionally, the fast is broken with a date (pictured above).

Advice includes:

• consider the energy levels of staff, especially where work is physically demanding, and where possible, scheduling meetings earlier in the day and avoiding evening meetings or work events
• avoid scheduling lunchtime events
• be fair and considerate in the distribution of additional rest breaks
• as the month of Ramadan is aligned with the lunar calendar, Eid-al-Fitr has no fixed date. Employers are encouraged to be flexible with their annual leave requests from Muslim workers around this time.

Guidance from ACAS and the EHRC provides employers with a range of best practices during the holy month, for example, by allowing Muslim staff longer on Fridays for Jummah prayers, by arriving or starting their working day earlier.

A 2021 survey of British Muslims on support from employers during Ramadan found that the most supportive adjustment (desired by 69% of recipients) was flexible shift patterns, followed by team members understanding what Ramadan means to them (60%), and annual leave for the final days of Ramadan (58%).

Wishing all UNISON members Ramadan Mubarak, UNISON national officer for racial equality Margaret Greer said: “Ramadan is a time of self-reflection, giving, and togetherness. For our Muslim members, this is an important time of the year to give thanks for the blessings and express gratitude in one’s life.

“It is important that UNISON Muslim members feel supported in the workplace and employers ensure and understand their needs at this spiritual and cherished time.”

Reference by https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2023/03/ramadan-2023-your-rights-at-work/