10+ Ways Companies Are Supporting Muslim Employees at Work During Ramadan (and Beyond)
One easy way to get started is by using the greeting Ramadan Mubarak, which translates to “Blessed Ramadan.” It’s commonly used to send well wishes to Muslims observing Ramadan and the traditions that come with it.
But supporting Muslim employees and colleagues at work is not just thinking about what to say to someone celebrating Ramadan, it’s about and considering how you can better support them every day. We asked some of our partner companies to tell us how they're supporting Muslim employees during Ramadan and all year-round. Keep hearing to hear what they had to say in their own words.
BlackRock— host a virtual Eid celebration
“Last year, BlackRock's Asian & Middle Eastern Professionals (AMP) Network put together a virtual Eid celebration. This year, AMP is holding a virtual Spring Parade that will acknowledge the way different cultures celebrate Spring during the month of Ramadan. During the parade, colleagues will share photos, videos and educational presentations about Nowruz, which many of our Muslim colleagues also celebrate. AMP hopes to continue to provide opportunities for employees to gain cultural awareness and celebrate with one another during events like these throughout the year.”
Learn more about BlackRock here.
1Password— allow flexible working hours to accommodate fasting and prayer schedules
“As a remote-first company, 1Password has valued the importance of work-life balance since our inception in 2005. We want everyone's health, happiness, and fulfillment to be a top priority at work and at home. That means providing as much flexibility as possible for the wellbeing of all our employees, including our Muslim team members. Whether fasting, praying, or taking some time for introspection, we encourage our team to take the time they need to celebrate or practice during both Ramadan and all year round.”
Learn more about 1Password here.
Procore— learn how your team can join in on the celebration
“Ramadan (April 2-May 2) celebrates prayer and reflection among Muslims worldwide. Procore encourages all Procorians to bring their whole selves to work and make adjustments to support their family, faith, and community throughout the year. Tas Sachak shared how her Customer Support team supported her during Ramadan, including joining her to “open [her] fast” and ordering a prayer rug for Tas to use in-office. Tas explained, “these efforts to enhance inclusion helped me to feel respected even though I’m the only team member who practices Ramadan. My colleagues’ efforts to embrace and include me as an individual was extremely touching."
Learn more about Procore here.
Moody’s— create awareness around the significance of Ramadan
“Moody's recognizes and supports Muslim employees, and actively encourages flexibility to Muslim colleagues to choose their work hours during Ramadan. Moody’s Multicultural BRG promotes articles and newsletters that help create awareness around the practices and significance of this month and provides information for team members interacting with colleagues who observe Ramadan, regardless of their geographical location. Also, Moody’s is hosting two events; one will focus on Eid to mark the end of Ramadan and the other will highlight of the importance of Ramadan and its traditions.”
Learn more about Moody’s here.
Pluralsight— be mindful when scheduling meeting and setting project deadlines
“At Pluralsight, we celebrate the diversity that powers our teams. We recognize Ramadan as a time of hope and reflection for our Muslim team members. Our unlimited paid time-off policy is designed so that team members can take time away to rest and recharge, including any time needed for our Muslim team members around the world during the month of Ramadan. We also encourage our people leaders to provide flexibility in scheduling meetings, setting project deliverables, and other tasks as appropriate to support our Muslim team members from sunrise to sunset during this holy month.”
Learn more about Pluralsight here.
Cummins— set apart an in-office prayer space
“I have been at Cummins for about 12 years now based in Huddersfield UK. As a practicing Muslim every year I practice Ramadan (fast) which is 1 of the 5 pillars of Islam. Ramadan lasts for a whole month and during daylight hours practicing Muslims are not permitted to mainly eat or drink during this time. During the summer periods the fast can last for 21 hours in the UK.
Since the introduction of flexible working hours, I’ve been able to change my work patterns to help me work and rest during the month of Ramadan without affecting my work.
There is a multi-faith room on-site and this has helped me to pray my 5 daily prayers. The local diversity council have held Ramadan awareness events to talk with our colleagues for awareness and helped to celebrate Eid together”.
Malik, Customer & Product Quality leader, Cummins
Learn more about Cummins here.
SoftwareOne— launch an educational campaign with best practices to support Muslim colleagues and customers
“Inclusivity and belonging are a few of the cornerstones of the SoftwareONE experience. In order to further develop culturally proficient employees, SoftwareONE provides extensive learning opportunities to facilitate an accepting and informed workplace. For the upcoming Ramadan holy month, we launched an educational campaign highlighting best practices to support our Muslim colleagues and customers. Additionally, in partnership with our Muslim employees, we’ll host a roundtable discussion that encourages dialogue about Ramadan, its religious significance, history, and cultural practices. By utilizing multiple communication platforms, SoftwareONE works to ensure our Muslim employees feel celebrated, included, and supported throughout Ramadan and beyond. ”
Learn more about SoftwareOne here.
PagerDuty— allow employees to choose where they want to work: at home, in office, or hybrid
“At PagerDuty, we offer a flexible work model that allows employees to choose where they want to work - hybrid, office, or anywhere. This provides space for employees to observe cultural and religious practices in an atmosphere that is comfortable to them. Those working in the office are offered a supportive and inclusive workplace, allowing for private areas to have a moment of pause. We have prayer rooms in our Atlanta, San Francisco, and Toronto offices, as well as prayer mat storage. Additionally we offer generous paid time off and a floating holiday that can be taken to observe/celebrate holidays for various religions.”
Learn more about PagerDuty here.
Splunk— encourage a work / life blend to take time for suhur and ifter and rest when needed
“Splunk is a people-centric company, putting supportive measures in place so employees can bring their best and most authentic selves to work.
During the holy month of Ramadan (and year round) Splunkers are supported with a healthy, connected, flexible and sustainable work environment, encouraging time to recognize suhur and ifter.
Splunk supports diverse and flexible options and locations where we work with an emphasis on inclusion. It’s Splunk’s over 8,000 employees around the world whose values shape our ever evolving company culture.
If you would like to learn more about life at Splunk, please visit splunk.com/careers #WeAreSplunk ”
Learn more about Splunk here.
Workiva— encourage Muslim employees to connect and celebrate together
“Here at Workiva, our Asia-Pacific teams are putting together a virtual Eid celebration to commemorate the end of Ramadan. In this way, Workivians who celebrate will be able to connect with others across the world who also commemorate Ramadan and share their experiences. We also support our employees who celebrate by providing the flexibility to schedule their working hours and the possibility of remote work so they are able to accommodate the traditional Iftar meal and prayers after sunset. This also allows them to travel, gather with their loved ones, and attend celebrations.”
Learn more about Workiva here.
Equinix— celebrate spiritual diversity through learning sessions
"Equinix is committed to supporting our employees’ wellbeing, including their needs to worship in accordance with their faiths. Bolstered by our employee resource group, FaithConnect, whose mission is to inspire a culture of learning and respect for all faiths, non-faiths and worldviews in the workplace, we look to lay a foundation of belonging and holistic wellbeing at Equinix.
We know that by celebrating spiritual diversity, employees can bring their whole authentic self to work. Ramadan is just one example. Employees have access to quiet rooms for prayer, which is supportive every day, but certainly during Ramadan. We have hosted learning sessions open to everyone to hear more about this holiday—some employees even chose to join their fasting colleagues. In short, we encourage people of all beliefs to connect and better understand each other."
Learn more about Equinix here.
Elastic— encourage employees to come as they are
“At Elastic our "Source code" helps create a culture where individuals from all faiths have the freedom and flexibility to practice their religious beliefs, which is especially important to our Muslim employees during Ramadan.
One part of our source code is "Home, Dinner'' where we encourage employees to make their work timetable fit around their own needs such as Iftar. Another aspect of our Source Code is for people to come "As you are'' where we want Elasticians to bring their whole selves to work; as employees, parents, citizens of the world and as Muslims.”
Learn more about Elastic here.
The Life-Changing Magic Of Support: How Susan Betts Found A Home At Microsoft
After two years, Betts was offered a senior director position on the Microsoft Brand team. Saying yes to the job was significantly easier than the immigration challenge that awaited them—Colombaretti's student visa was due to expire.
"We were debating staying in New York—jumping at the opportunity for me to work at Microsoft—or going back to Brazil," Betts recalled. "But always, there was this question around immigration."
This was in 2011, and gay marriage wouldn't be recognized by the US Supreme Court until 2013, which meant that Colombaretti wasn't eligible to apply for a green card as Betts's spouse. Colombaretti had neither a green card nor a spouse visa, and the couple wondered if they might be headed back to Brazil much sooner than they wanted.
"We loved it here; it was where we chose to be," said Betts.
While Betts was still in the recruitment phase with Microsoft and fielding these complex questions, Microsoft's legal team stepped in to help.
"They were incredibly diligent and supportive every step of the way, before I came to Microsoft and during the subsequent months after I had joined," Betts said. "There are hundreds of people at Microsoft who are on visas, and Microsoft does a lot of work to support their immigration. We probably have the best legal immigration team that you could ever dream for, because we have so many people from overseas here," Betts said.
Microsoft's legal counsel suggested that the couple postpone the next step—applying for Betts's green card—until Colombaretti could be added to the application as her recognized legal spouse. Many eyes were on the landmark Edie Windsor court case, which the legal team knew could flip everything on its head by repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, the US federal law that defined marriage as being between a man and a woman.
In 2012, same-sex marriage became legal in Washington State, but still the couple waited to get married.
"Marriage equality on a federal level is what mattered to us, because immigration is a federal issue," said Betts.
Susan and Silvia (on computer screen) got married in Brazil and in the United States on the same day. The couple's faces beam with joy on Skype as they celebrated with Susan's mother (right) and two best friends who acted as witnesses.
They waited, but they did not despair. Betts calls herself a glass-half-full kind of person, and while things were up in the air, Betts said that she knew they could always move home to Brazil and be close to their supportive families.
"We were apprehensive, but we had options," she said. "A lot of people aren't that flexible."
She also felt fortunate that she was born into an accepting family and recognized that many people don't have that experience.
"My mother is incredibly supportive of me and Silvia."
The ability to feel confident at home with her family meant Betts didn't have to worry about her sexuality and the potential impact it could have on her life.
"At home, at work, with my friends, and in my social life, it's never really been a taboo, or hidden," she said. "This gave me peace of mind since the very beginning of my adult life. I wish everyone could have the kind of emotional support I did."
In anticipation of the Windsor case, the couple married in April 2013, so that when the decision came down, they could proceed with the final stage of their green card application and list Colombaretti as Betts's legally recognized spouse.
Betts and Colombaretti originally thought they would have a simple courthouse wedding, but they reconsidered, wanting to make memories with their families in Brazil. Using the power of video conferencing, they logged into Skype at 6:00 AM in Washington State and watched while Betts's mother (equipped with their power of attorneys), friends, and a Brazilian notary made it official in their home country.
"Then I came to work," Betts said. "And after work, we went over to the Bellevue Courthouse and got married here, too," Betts proclaimed, like the end of a fairy tale.
Windsor, one of Betts's heroes, won her case in the US Supreme Court, granting same-sex couples the same benefits that are given to married heterosexuals.
"When that happened, it unlocked marriage equality at a federal level," Betts said, which meant it also unlocked the immigration debate at a federal level. The following year, the couple were granted their green cards.
"We were guided every step of the way by Microsoft's legal team, which was incredible. You know, I couldn't ask for more," Betts said. "I have felt and been supported for who I am my entire life—by my family and now by Microsoft as my employer," she said. "When that happens, you feel truly included."
Stories power change
As a firm believer in the power of stories, Betts shares hers as much as she can with the hope of providing a better platform for others and the life they choose to live.
"Once stories become a part of social fabric, once they aren't hidden in the closet, people will start to be more accepting. And the norms, the behaviors, the values will start to change because people will start to see things differently," she said.
"I think that when things are in the closet and hidden, you create your own story about what they are. When things are out of the closet, you realize that we are all diverse in some way," she continued.
"My uniqueness may be different from your uniqueness, but we're not different at a very human level. My love for my wife, and her love for me, is no different than your love for your spouse."
Betts said it's a bit ironic, all the talk about immigration and the legal system and the Supreme Court and the Microsoft legal team. "Because to me, at the end of the day it's all just about Silvia and I loving each other."
Meet more Microsoft employees who are changing hearts and minds and advancing human rights.
https://news.microsoft.com/life/topic/pride/
See how Microsoft is celebrating Pride 2018 and how you can be an ally.
https://www.microsoft.com/pride/
Learn how Microsoft and its LGBTQ+ employees push for change across borders.
https://news.microsoft.com/life/pride/
Synchrony Employee Story: Meet Jackie Garcia, Field Sales Manager
Jackie is proud of everywhere her career at Synchrony has taken her – she especially loves how Synchrony has been there for her when she needed support the most and how she can, in turn, enrich others' experiences at Synchrony.
Today, Jackie is a Field Sales Manager responsible for an entire region, but there's much more to who she is than her title. For most of her life, Jackie has experienced acute hearing loss in both ears and relies on reading lips. When she joined Synchrony not only did they do the little things like buying her a good headset for phone calls, but they did the big things too. Her team was patient, listened, and pushed themselves outside of their comfort zones to embrace new ways of working together. Jackie was never at a disadvantage against her peers. "Everyone is on equal ground here. If you have a disability, you won't be treated any different. It's all about what you have to offer."
Jackie started out as a Customer Service Representative. Her managers saw her talent and saw that she was driven to do more. They nominated her for a Synchrony development program that moved her to Frisco, TX to work in client affairs. Leaders and mentors paved the way for her to have the experiences she needed to see where she could go next, and they prepared her to make that leap. "You'll be in awe of the leaders we have! They have incredible passion every day and you see how they live the values of the company. Every time I see them I can feel it and it re-energizes me."
After 4 years, that next leap came in the form of her first Field Sales Manager role (fostering growth in credit applications and credit sales), working on a major department store. At first she didn't think she would like the travel, but now she relishes in it. As she travels to stores in 20+ states, she's an extension of Synchrony, working directly with her clients. Jackie loves meeting new people and seeing the impact she has as their business grows (and reading a lot of lips!). She's also worked on a variety of projects such as developing a program for onboarding new field sales managers, and taking on a leadership role in compliance
All along, Jackie's leaders haven't seen that she's challenged in hearing, they've seen that she has potential. "This is what you'll experience – values aren't here for us to look good in a commercial, it's in our core and everything we do. We show it every day."
Jackie experienced that leadership and belief in Synchrony's values again when she was diagnosed with cancer. Synchrony had just changed the company insurance plan, and the CFO came to her office to meet with the team. He said he was responsible for changing the plan and wanted to know how it impacted them. Jackie spoke up, as difficult as it was, to tell him it was hard to manage her illness, work, medical expenses, and her family. After the meeting, the CFO thanked her for sharing her story and offered to help. Synchrony gave Jackie grants for some of her medical costs, and found a pharma company that would pay for her medicine. The CFO always followed up to see how she was doing. She's cancer free today. "Our leaders truly care for us. Seeing how they care makes me want to share this message as often as I can and with as many people as I can."
Jackie has been a mainstay of Synchrony's diversity networks, even before they were formally organized. Caring and passion to support others has always been part of the culture and values at Synchrony, but the diversity networks go straight to her heart. First as part of the People with Disabilities Network, and now in the Veterans Network, Jackie values the opportunity to educate and be a force for good for her colleagues of all backgrounds and abilities. "Everyone here can help and support each other"
Unsurprisingly, Jackie is in high demand – earning 13 awards since becoming a field sales manager. Recently, she was approached with a job offer for more money, and she turned it down. "This isn't like other jobs. I've invested in my career, and Synchrony has invested in me – both through development opportunities for my career and support for my life outside of work. They do that for everyone."
Learn more about our People with Disabilities Network.
