An educational overview on why Ramadan matters to the world of talent and what it entails for those who practice it while working. This deck is intended for muslims to share with their colleagues as well as for workplaces in general to build cultures of diversity, inclusion, and belonging. The perspective shared here is based on the author's personal views and interpretation only.

1. Ramadan Overview
for the Workplace

2. Ramadan and the World of Talent
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1.8 Bn people or
24% of world population
Observed by
1/4th of the World
Majority within the young
workforce segment
Majority in the
GlobalWorkforce
AllTypes of Professionals
People like us in regular jobs as well as
celebrities, including those who represent
us at the world stage
Source: Pew Research Center
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/08/09/muslims-and-islam-key-findings-in-the-u-s-and-around-the-world/

3. What actually is Ramadan?
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• ‘Ramadan’ refers to the name of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Considered to be the holiest of
the twelve months as it was in Ramadan the Prophet Muhammad initially received divine revelation
(Quran/Koran)
• It is the month of the year you reset your soul, mind, and body through prayer and meditation
• End of Ramadan marks Eid Fitr (one of the two major religious festivities for Muslims each year)
Context
Timing
• The Islamic calendar is calculated according to the lunar cycles. Ramadan therefore begins when the new
moon is sited. As a result the start and finish times change from year to year, usually getting 10 days
earlier every year.
• This year it’s expected to be from May 16/17 to June 16/17
• At present in NAMER and EMEA, Ramadan hits long days during summer, however in 10 or so years
Muslims here will be fasting much shorter days during winter

4. What Muslims practice in Ramadan?
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Physical Fast from
Dawn to Sunset
Mindfulness &
Consciousness
• No intake of any food or liquid
of any kind
• From Dawn (appearance of
light before Sunrise) to Sunset
• Actions considered impermissible while
fasting include unethical acts like the telling
of a lie, slander, denouncing someone behind
their back, a false oath, greed or
covetousness, etc.
• Helps refresh the foundation to act with
integrity all the time not just during fasting
Meditation &
Purpose
• Special prayers, reflection,
and research, every night after
Iftar, on purpose of the
individual in service to others
Community &
Celebration
• The end of Ramadan is celebrated
with the Eid ul Fitr - Festival of Fast-
breaking
• On the first day Muslims go to the
mosque for a special prayer
• This is followed by a three day
holiday in which families and friends
visit each other, exchange gifts and
socialize.

5. What is each day like for the month?
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~ 17 hrs. Fasting
• ~ 4 am – 8:30 pm
• Start work @ 5am
• Energy depleted @ 2pm
~ 4.5 hrs.
Sleep
Break fast (meal called Iftar),
go in to food coma, pray, and
try going back to sleep
Stuff yourself max 3:30
– 4:00 am
29/30 Days
Based on lunar cycle
Times based on San Francisco Bay Area timings for 2018

6. Common Questions
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• So do you lose a lot of weight during Ramadan?
o Depends on how you break fast . Culturally it’s become a tradition to do a food feast every day and you may end up gaining weight; attending a
traditional Iftar is a great experience (even if you’re not Muslim) if you ever get a chance to attend one
• Can you at least have water?
o No intake allowed of any kind at all!
• Does everyone have to fast? Even young kids?
o It’s different for each person. Most people usually start practicing as appropriate and possible for their age, health, and any other situation. Some
people start in their teenage and some earlier.You are allowed to miss your fast based on varying conditions, e.g. your physical conditions don’t
allow you to such as sickness or pregnancy, you’re traveling, you feel your working conditions don’t allow you to (left to the person’s interpretation)
etc.
• What if you have to miss your fast?
o You make up for it by a) paying for someone’s iftar who can’t afford to pay for it, if your financial conditions allows to, and b) fasting later in the year
when the conditions are suitable
• Are flexible work practices followed globally for Ramadan?
o In muslim dominated countries, work schedules are mostly reduced / altered to accommodate for fasting. In other countries, e.g. UK
(https://www.hrzone.com/perform/people/ramadan-at-work-hr-best-practice) and NAMER, some companies will allow flexible work schedules.

7. What culture and values does it aim to foster?
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8. What does it mean for my schedule?
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• Remote work as much as possible
• Try to minimize meetings after 2 pm, as much as possible.
• Will be starting work early at 5am