H&S Tips: How to Support Employees During Ramadan

In a few weeks, more than two billion Muslims around the world will be celebrating the religious month of Ramadan. During this time, Muslims will practice all kinds of self-reflection, self-discipline, and even self-sacrifice.

Ramadan is predicted to fall on 28 Feb 2025 (subject to lunar sighting) according to charity-group Islamic Relief. It'll last for 30 days, followed by Eid-Ul-Fitr. Before festivities start, employers should think about tackling potential H&S issues that could impact employees fasting at work.

Employers have a legal responsibility to protect their staff from health, safety, and welfare issues – especially for fasting employees. Neglect this and you could end up facing work-related accidents and occupational health risks. For further advice, contact one of our expert H&S advisors free of charge today. 

Now, let’s look at health & safety tips employers can use to support Muslim employees during Ramadan.

What is Ramadan and why is it celebrated?

Ramadan is the 9th month in the Islamic calendar. It’s held as a significant month for Muslims, as it was believed that the Quran was revealed during this time. To celebrate this spiritual month, Muslims go through a personal, spiritual cleanse. They take this time to practice self-discipline, gratitude, and mindfulness. During Ramadan, Muslims:

• Observe fasting.
• Donate to charities.
• Promote community cohesion.
• Perform additional prayers.
• Minimise bad habits and behaviours.

Observing fasts during Ramadan is a common practice found across the world. So, employers should expect their Muslim staff to do the same. Whilst it’s their religious right to fast, you must ensure they don’t face health-related issues due to their workloads.

When is Ramadan this year?

Ramadan doesn’t have a set annual date, as it’s based on the Islamic calendar – not the Gregorian one. That’s why it’s hard to predict when Ramadan starts each year. Once the moon is sighted, Muslims will be able to start fasting for Ramadan and celebrate Eid-Ul-Fitr at the end.

Not knowing how your employees will feel working and fasting at the same time is hard to predict. That's why it's best to plan ahead to minimise potential health & safety issues in the workplace.

What legal rights apply to employees during Ramadan?

Employment law doesn’t specifically highlight legal rights employees have during Ramadan. However, there are certain H&S legislation they have all year round that will become significant during this month. For example:

The Employment Rights Bill 2024

The Employment Rights Bill 2024 aims to provide all employees with the right to raise flexible working requests from their first day. Flexible working during Ramadan can help them change daily work hours, rotas, and environments.

Employers aren’t legally obligated to accept flexible working requests – only consider them. However, it’s advisable to think about what changes you’ll need to make to ensure fasting employees are working safely, legally, and in comfort.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 highlights the importance of employee wellbeing and safe working practices. It looks at the importance of caring for vulnerable people, like fasting employees.

During Ramadan, employees will feel emotional and exhausted. Lack of food, water, and sleep can impact anyone. That’s why employers have a duty of care to follow safe working practices – making sure fasting employees are fit enough to work.

The Working Time Regulations 1998

The Working Time Regulations 1998 covers legal rules on rest days, breaks, and maximum working hours. Fasting employees may ask for changes to their work conditions, like:

Flexible working: They could ask to work from home on days they’re feeling particularly exhausted. Some employees may request to work from home for the entire month of Ramadan.

Work hours: They may ask to change their start/end times to match their fasting hours. For example, starting earlier as they’re already awake for their morning meal. Some may ask to reschedule their lunch break to be used during daily prayer times.

Night work: If possible, employees may ask to switch their work patterns from day to night shifts. This could suit them better, as they’ll be able to do their job fully hydrated and replenished.

H&S tips on supporting employees fasting during Ramadan

There are billions of Muslims all around the world, all getting ready to start fasting this Ramadan. And some of them will probably be found in your business. Employers should think about how to protect their safety and welfare whilst fasting during work hours. Let’s look at H&S tips employers can use to support their Muslim staff during Ramadan:

Conduct a wellbeing assessment

Dehydration, hunger, fatigue, sleep deprivation… The biggest health & safety risk fasting employees will face during Ramadan relates to their wellbeing. Even Muslims who are medically fit enough to fast could suffer from such health issues.

If necessary, employers can conduct a wellbeing assessment for fasting employees. These assessments are usually for vulnerable employees; like young workers, new and expectant mothers, and those with existing health conditions. However, the assessments can help identify issues fasting employees may face during daily work activities - minimising occupational risks and ill-health.

Make reasonable adjustments

Once you’ve conducted assessments, you’ll be able to make reasonable adjustments for your fasting employees. These changes can relate to work tasks, responsibilities, or even environments. For example, reassign any tasks that may cause extreme heat stress towards fasting employees.

Certain female Muslims may decide to wear Islamic headscarves during Ramadan as an act of religious devotion. Employers must ensure this aligns with their safe working practices and dress-code policies. For example, making sure any loose materials are tucked away to avoid getting caught in machinery.

Assign a resting room

Research by the NHS found disrupted sleep impacted employee performance more than not being able to eat or drink during Ramadan. A great way to tackle this is by assigning a rest room in your workplace. Rooms like these can help fasting employees rest and recharge during breaks.

A clean, quiet room can also be used to pray or even catch up on sleep. You might already have dining halls or kitchen areas that can be used to rest. However, heightened noises and food smells in these areas can worsen a person’s fasting experience.

Keep an eye on vulnerable employees

Under Islamic belief, only people who are medically-fit are allowed to fast. For example, those who are menstruating, pregnant, too old, too young, or have medical conditions shouldn’t fast. But because Ramadan is a social experience, many choose to still fast despite being religiously exempt.

Employers need to respect their decision and keep an eye on these vulnerable employees. Without proper management, they could cause serious injury to themselves or others around them.

Raise awareness on fasting during Ramadan

Some people might be completely oblivious to what Ramadan is and why people would put themselves through 30 days of fasting. Employers should raise awareness so non-Muslim colleagues can acknowledge, support, and even participate in festivities if they choose.

It’s also a great space for Muslim employees to personally share issues about fasting during work hours. For example, they may ask to not schedule evening meetings so as to not collide with late-night meals and prayers.

Employers may also share information on how employees can take care of their health and wellbeing during Ramadan. Aiming for at least seven hours of sleep, eating nutritional food, and staying hydrated can all make the fasting journey easier.

Get expert advice on supporting employees during Ramadan with Peninsula

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims all around the world. Most likely, your Muslim employees will practice fasting during their work hours, despite any hardships they could face. Employers need to acknowledge their health, safety, and welfare duties for fasting employees.

Peninsula offers expert advice on supporting employees during Ramadan. Our 24/7 H&S advice is available 365 days a year. Want to find out more? Book a free chat with one of our H&S consultants. For further information, call 0800 051 3685.

Sources

Ramadan 2025 with Islamic Relief | Islamic Relief

Supporting your staff during Ramadan | NHS