Fasting does not have to affect productivity

With proper planning, employees can continue to meet their deadlines and work objectives during Ramadan, human resources experts say

Maintaining high energy and productivity at work while fasting during Ramadan can be a daunting challenge, say human resources experts in Dubai.

But with a little planning and flexibility by both employees and employers, mutual well-being can remain high.

Nuno Gomes, careers business leader MENAT with Mercer Middle East, told Gulf News that a key driver to maintaining productivity and well-being during Ramadan is making allowances for fasting individuals to work at their own pace during the month.

Rather than focusing on the hours punched in, Gomes said companies and employees can keep output high by staggering work slots.

“From an industry perspective, I think the trick is allowing further flexibility for fasting colleagues. It’s not just about the hours,” Gomes said.

“As long as the deadlines are met and work with clients gets done, that’s fine,” he said.

Companies in the region have long recognised that there is a need to balance the well-being of its employees with work output during specific time periods such as Ramadan.

A productive Ramadan is about asking the critical question: ‘How can I be the best version of myself — spiritually, physically, and socially during this month?’”

Mohammad Faris | Author

Deadlines must be met

Anita Saboo, CEO of Ubitech, an HR consultancy firm based in Dubai, agreed that business operations do tend to take on a different rhythm during Ramadan, but she believes employees who are fasting can observe the practices required of the month and still be productive.

“A company should not be tolerant of lagging deadlines.”

According to Mohammad Faris, founder of ProductiveMuslim.com and author of The Productive Muslim: Where Faith Meets Productivity, the debate between productivity and spiritualism during the holy month does not have to be an either/or exercise.

Maintain productivity

Those who are fasting can continue to be highly productive with the right choices to achieve both ideals.

“What I hope you would appreciate by now is that having a productive Ramadan is neither about focusing on the spiritual side of Ramadan only and neglecting productivity and work performance, nor the opposite,” writes Faris on his website blog.

“A productive Ramadan is about asking oneself the critical question: ‘How can I be the best version of myself — spiritually, physically, and socially during this blessed month?’ If enough [people] ask themselves this question and follow through ... then we get a different result ... one that will say Ramadan not only improves subjective well-being among followers, but also improves economic performance and productivity.”