As Muslims prepare to welcome the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan, the city is finally slowing down to take a well-deserved breather. In a professional setting too, you will observe more than a couple of changes – colleagues abstaining from food and drink (yes, even water, so please don’t ask them that question again this year!), office lunch spots looking a little emptier, and the usual coffee-fueled hustle shifting to a calmer pace. While we’ve made strides in embracing workplace diversity, there’s always room to better understand religious observances like Ramadan.
Whether you’re an employer, team leader or a solid coworker, here’s your cheat sheet to not be that person who makes fasting harder than it already is. So shall we dive in or shall we dive in?
1. Keep The Munching Low-Key
Your colleague’s 10-hour fast is no joke. If you’re unsure how that feels, imagine this: You’ve just accepted the reality of not eating all day, and suddenly, your coworker plops down next to you with a massive, juicy burger. As if that’s not enough, they wave it in your direction, exclaiming, “Oh man, this is SOOO good!” Brutal, right? Now, no one’s asking you to skip meals at the office, but maybe put on your mindful cap when eating near a fasting colleague. And maybe not chomp down on your meal like it’s an ASMR video in a shared space?
Also read: Ramadan Mubarak Vs Ramadan Kareem – Which One Should You Say?
2. Energy Levels – Running on 10% by 2 PM
Your fasting colleagues are not your laptop. If you’re anything like me, you work on your laptop until it screams for a charger, ignore the warning, and continue working until it finally walks out on you. Now, picture the same thing, but as a person running on zero food or water. By mid-afternoon, expect some colleagues to be in low-power mode. If they look like they’re about to merge with their chair, consider rescheduling that high-energy brainstorming session for earlier in the day. And if your office allows them to leave early? Good for them – don’t guilt-trip them for it.
3. You Aren’t A Food Detective, So Quit Acting Like One!
“Oh wait, I thought you were fasting?” “Hey, you’re drinking water—so that’s allowed?” Now, fasting is a personal choice, and there are health-related reasons why someone might not be observing it on a particular day. For all you know, the woman might be on her period or managing a health condition. Or they are pregnant and are not ready to announce it to the world yet. So let’s steer clear of such questions that are bound to put both you and them in an awkward position. I mean, unless you’re their doctor or their mom, there’s no need to investigate. Just let people do their thing.
Also read: UAE: 7 Do’s & Don’t’s To Follow During Ramadan
4. Be A Meeting Schedule Wizard
The last thing a fasting person wants is to sit through a long, soul-draining meeting at 4 PM. If you’re leading a team, the least you can do is schedule those brain melting sessions earlier in the day. While you might be daydreaming about tweaking the template of your latest deck, the only thing on their mind is making it through the final stretch and getting home before Maghrib prayers. And if rescheduling isn’t really an option, at least be mindful of iftar – if your meeting runs into that time, expect them to mentally check out when the clock strikes sunset o’clock.
5. Let’s Have an Iftar-Cum-Birthday Celebration In Office
Don’t be the colleague who surprises a fasting Muslim coworker with a birthday cake at 10 AM. Or the one who orders food for the whole team to celebrate their first paycheck. They won’t make a fuss about it, but let’s do our bit. Maybe hold off on that Friday afternoon pizza party for now? Instead, plan an iftar gathering where everyone can feast together. If it absolutely must happen during the day, just be cool with fasting colleagues skipping out on food-related events without making a big deal about it.
Also read: #IftarOnABudget: 5 Iftar Deals Under AED 100 In Dubai
6. Small Gestures = Big Respect
If you must discuss food with a fasting colleague, avoid comments like, “Oh nooo, you can’t have this now? That sucks!” There’s no need to feel sorry for them—Muslims see fasting as a privilege, not penance. You don’t have to roll out a red carpet, but tiny gestures – like not picking their brain with tasks assigned to you (30 days, you can do it!), not asking them to wait around unnecessarily, or simply tagging along when they leave home for iftar. If you’re a team lead, offering flexibility with deadlines or office hours, or letting them prioritize familiar tasks over new ones, can make their experience much smoother.
Being a great coworker during Ramadan is definitely no rocket science. It’s all about awareness, respect, and, most importantly, not making things awkward. Follow these simple tips to keep the office vibes inclusive and drama-free. And do give us a shout if you’ve been crowned the official MVP of workplace inclusivity!
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