DUBAI — Ramadan is a time for reflection, unity, sharing and generosity. It is a time that can bring out the best in people, whether during work or when spending time with friends and family. For professionals in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the wonderful spirit of Ramadan is very much present in the workplace and the holy month comes with plenty of time to reflect and plan. According to the new “Ramadan in the Middle East and North Africa Workplace” poll, carried out by Bayt.com, the Middle East’s #1 Job Site, the majority of MENA professionals (79.1%) agree that they plan to spend more time looking for a new job during Ramadan.
A large contributor to the increased job search activity has to do with the fact that 49.6% of those in the poll believe that Ramadan helps them to slow down their distractions and also allows them to focus on their career goals. On top of that, more than half of the respondents believe that companies’ hiring activity during the holy month either increases or remains the same.
“Job seekers who are planning to use this month to multiply their job search efforts and career planning activities are recommended to use Bayt.com’s numerous career search and support tools,” said Suhail Masri, Vice President of Employer Solutions, Bayt.com. “Thousands of employers continuously advertise new jobs and search for CVs on Bayt.com during Ramadan, and those who are currently searching are invited to join our platform to find their next career opportunity.”
With a favorable workplace atmosphere during the holy month, nearly three quarters of respondents (72%) feel that their workload decreases or remains the same during Ramadan to match their energy level and work hours. In contrast, less than three in 10 respondents claim that their workload increases during the holy month.
When it comes to working hours, which are normally adjusted or decreased during Ramadan, the bigger proportion (45.7%) of respondents are satisfied with their companies’ working hours during the holy month. 19.1% were neutral in response to this question and 35.2% said they were not satisfied with their working hours.
With this in mind, 62.1% of MENA respondents agree that they spend more time with their family and friends during Ramadan.
Despite the changes in workload and hours, productivity and commitment to work remain high in the MENA region during Ramadan. Nearly two thirds of respondents feel more productive in the workplace during Ramadan (63.7%), more than one in five (21.9%) are able to maintain the same level productivity, and only 14.4% report being less productive in Ramadan.
In addition, the great majority (85.3%) of professionals are still committed and do not take more days off than usual during this month.
It’s evident that Ramadan has many positive effects on the MENA region, lifting people’s spirits and enabling their generosity – and these can be seen in many ways in the workplace. Respondents also agreed (43.8%) that during Ramadan people work with more harmony and mindfulness, making the work environment a positive place to be.
© The Saudi Gazette 2017
