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Posted By Rommel
I have some Muslim staff who wants work during their regular brake and go home an hour early at the end of the day so they can break their fast with their family.
If I remember correct, the working times regulation requires the employer to allow at least 20 min for 6 hours of work a day, apart from that, is that not a health issue?
Any ideas on what I should do?
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Posted By AHS
They shouldnt do that a break during the day is for their own welfare; maybe dock an hours wages or take time off their holiday entitlement so they can observe their festival.
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Posted By SAF
Flexi time maybe?
Ask them to start an hour early maybe?
The month of RAMADAN is nearly over( 12 days or so to go?) so its not a permanent arrangement and could go a long way in enhancing employee relations.
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Posted By Brigham
This has nothing to do with H&S and everything to do with HR
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Posted By Merv Newman
Having worked with Muslims, including through ramadam, I found that a 4pm 15 - 20 minute break for coffee/juice/prayer was acceptable to everyone.
Our Muslim friends will, of course, correct me but breaking of the fast is usually at dusk and does not have to occur with the family.
Just as a side-dish (or comment) I go for the spit-roasted lamb but just cannot stand the cous-cous.
If I know we are invited to a meshoui then I take a jar of mint sauce.
Merv
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Posted By Rommel
Colleagues, thanks very much for all your advice.
I agree that it has something to do with HR, but my main concern here is the wellbeing of someone who turns up for work on a construction site at 8am and he is expected to work until 4pm non-stop with out any food or drink so he can go home an hour early… (Nothing to do with H&S ) I don’t agree with that.
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Posted By Amanda
Rommel
This is a Diversity issue to which HR should ensure the needs of the religious beliefs are observed.
The breaking of the fast is normally done communally (family or friends) although it is recognised it sometimes cannot be so.
Ramadan has been observed for centuries and guided by the Imam the fast is perfectly safe.
I think it would be wrong to try and enforce rules for 'health and safety' without consulting the people who are fasting and asking an Imam for guidance.
Incidentally the Muslims who work for us communicate their needs and we try to accommodate them, Ramadan has never been a problem. You also need to consider the prayer times as they change with the season of dawn and dusk times.
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Posted By Jason911
The working time regulations are there for good reason and applicable to all. I simply don't understand why any exception would be made. We don't give Scottish employees the extra bank holidays off that they would receive if working in the North and we don't give our Jewish employees Rosh Hasanar (new year) off, so what is the exception here?
I would be interested to learn whether I would receive all my religious holidays if I worked in a Muslim country, especially one which does not appear to tolerate any of our customs and traditions, such as alcohol or dressing how you wish full stop.
I think scheduling staff can be difficult enough and in my opinion individuals who choose to live and work in another country should expect to adhere to the law of that country, especially if it is in the interests of H&S for all employees.
Or is that just me then?
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Posted By Jay Joshi There is some guidance on the ACAS website http://www.acas.org.uk/m...a/pdf/f/l/religion_1.pdfExtract:- Para 4.9 "Some religions require extended periods of fasting. Employers may wish to consider how they can support staff through such a period. However, employers should take care to ensure that they do not place unreasonable extra burdens on other workers which may cause conflict between workers or claims of discrimination"
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Posted By Lilian McCartney
I think that reasonable arrangements can be worked out with the employee and their fellow workers.
I would be wary of this being no breaks as rest is required and would perhaps consider (as one previous post) losing a holiday/s somewhere to make this time up. If it's for more than one day which I believe Ramadan is for a month is it every day they wish to go early?
Then using hols would probably be best.
Lilian
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