Hi! We’re more than halfway through Ramadan, and I would like to make sure that I am doing all that I can to help employees in my company remain productive, without taking a toll on their life, or health. We’re a company that values life outside of work, so it is important that our employees have a work-life balance at all times. What are some ways you recommend to help employees achieve a better work-life balance during Ramadan? Sara M.
Hi Sara. The holy month of Ramadan is a time when people choose to spend more time with their loved ones; it is also a time when people participate in more charity work, and of course, spend more time to reflect on and gain a deeper connection with their faith. Already busy weekdays become even busier, and in many cases shorter, so it is important for you to help employees keep a healthy balance between their jobs and their life outside of work. Here are just a few ways to help you achieve that.
1. Set clear priorities
Setting clear priorities for your employees is probably more important during Ramadan than any other month. Having a clear plan, with monthly KPIs to be achieved, will help your team organize and prioritize their work. Help them set up individual and team task lists. This will give them a clear idea of what they need to focus on and achieve by month end. According to the Bayt.com ‘Work Life Balance in the Middle East and North Africa’ poll, September 2012, eight in 10 respondents would consider changing their job if it can allow them a better work-life balance, while 14.8% feel better prioritization of home and work tasks is the key to a better work-life balance.
2. Introduce flexible hours
Among the many challenges professionals face during Ramadan, one of the toughest may be getting enough sleep at night. It is important to recognize that, for many, the night hours are spent in prayer and Quran recitation. Disconnected sleep may leave employees feeling tired and groggy during the day. A simple way to fix this is by offering work arrangements with more flexibility. Flexible hours allow employees to choose the hours that work best for them, and lead to higher productivity, as well as happier and more satisfied employees.
3. Consider telecommuting
Nowadays, since almost anything can be done over the phone or using a laptop and internet connection, telecommuting has become a popular work arrangement for many. Though it may not be an ideal solution for every day of the year, you may want to consider it at least some of the time. Working from home cuts down on stress for many employees, saves the time spent commuting, and gives employees the room to balance their personal lives with their careers. If managed properly, telecommuting can benefit your company as well. Telecommuting has proved to increase employee morale and commitment to their jobs, which ultimately leads to a rise in productivity and efficiency.
4. Encourage employees to leave work at the office
Make sure you set realistic goals for your employees so they can finish their tasks during Ramadan’s shorter work days. Allowing employees to constantly take their work home with them blurs the line between work and home, and leads to stress, exhaustion and burnout. To-do lists are a great tool to help everyone organize and prioritize their daily tasks. Encourage your employees to create their own lists and keep their lists realistic. According to the Bayt.com ‘Distractions at Work in the Middle East and North Africa’ poll, December 2013, 94% of professionals in the region use to-do lists to organize their day, and 45% of them plan their tasks a week in advance.
5. Initiate charitable activities
People tend to do more charity work during Ramadan. In fact, the Bayt.com ‘Ramadan in the Middle East and North Africa Workplace’ poll, June 2016, shows that 94.9% of professionals in the region give more to charity during Ramadan. Why not align your company’s goals with those of your employees? A great way to achieve that is by initiating CSR activities which your employees could participate in. 56.3% of MENA professionals say that there is a noticeable increase in their company’s charitable activities during Ramadan. At Bayt.com, for example, we organize food drives and clothes donation and amp up our charitable activities during the holy month. CSR is highly valued by employees across the MENA region: 95% of respondents in the Bayt.com ‘CSR in the MENA: Is Your Company Making an Impact?’ poll, August 2013, feel it’s important that their company is socially responsible. Impactful CSR activities will give your employees more time to focus on things other than work.
6. Celebrate together
According to the Bayt.com ‘Ramadan in the Middle East and North Africa Workplace’ poll, 53.7% of MENA professionals socialize more with their colleagues during Ramadan. Ramadan is a great time to strengthen work relationships and build lasting friendships and a spirit of camaraderie among coworkers. Organize an Iftar for your team, or the entire company, to celebrate the holy month. Every year, Bayt.com organizes Iftar for all employees across 13 offices.
I hope these easy tips will make this month even more unique for you and your employees. Ramadan Mubarak!
