Supporting our colleagues in Ramadan
Today marks the first day of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims
worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. It is a commemoration of Prophet
Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) referred to as ‘peace be upon him’ or pbuh) and the receiving of the first revelation from Allah. The annual observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam and lasts twenty-nine
to thirty days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.
Fasting from dawn to sunset is obligatory for all adult Muslims, except in certain circumstances, if for example,
the person is ill, diabetic or if a woman is pregnant. The predawn meal is referred to as suhoor, and the nightly
feast that breaks the fast is called iftar. It’s believed that the spiritual rewards (thawab) of fasting are
multiplied during Ramadan. Accordingly, during the hours of fasting Muslims refrain not only from food and
drink, but also tobacco products and sinful behaviour, devoting themselves instead to prayer (salat) and study
of the Quran.
At FirstGroup we recognise that the success of our business depends on our people. We value diversity in
capabilities, experiences, perspectives, and approaches and are committed to creating a diverse workforce and
inclusive culture. We promote a culture that actively values difference and ensures everyone has the right to
be treated with dignity and respect and not to be discriminated against, bullied or harassed whatever their
background or lived experience. In our Equality Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) policy, we have set out seven
protected characteristics for equal treatment, of which religion is one.
Therefore, as Ramadan begins, we want to find ways to support our colleagues to observe this important
festival and understand more about what it means to them. In our head office we have a faith and wellbeing
room which our colleagues observing Ramadan can use. We offer flexible hybrid working, allowing us to be
respectful of prayer times.
This year in our bus division, some of our local business units are holding their very own First Bus iftaars,
where colleagues from all backgrounds can come together to enjoy different foods and ask questions about
the Muslim culture. Everyone is invited to these events, which are being promoted on our Connect app and via
digital screens in our bus depots across the UK. In our Great Western Railway (GWR) business we are also
offering advice and guidance to managers on how to best support their Muslim colleagues who are observing
Ramadan.
Sarah Siddiqi, Group HR and Legal Compliance Administrator, said: “Ramadan is a month of peace, serenity,
and charity. The feeling you get when the blessed month of Ramadan comes around is indescribable. For me, I
feel it is a month where I get to reset myself and understand my religion on a deeper level. I feel a different
sense of peace and happiness when Ramadan comes, especially towards the end when Eid al-Fitr is around the
corner. I feel with Ramadan, it’s a beautiful month for us because we are doing what is expected of us, without
feeling judged.”
“When it comes to the working world and fasting, I tend to not let anything around me change. However,
during this month, I do get less sleep because as a family, we like to stay up till the morning prayer either
reading Quran, listening to Islamic lectures, or podcasts. By the time the morning prayer comes, we would
then only get an hour of sleep before having to get ready for work. This does at times affect me, as I may be
slower on some days during the beginning of Ramadan, but after a week or so of fasting; my body starts to
become used to it, and I become more alert when working.”
“A way colleagues can help is by asking as many questions as possible. Personally, I love speaking about my
religion and would rather have people ask than assume, which is why when it comes to eating in front of your
Muslim colleague, please don’t feel uncomfortable, I can assure you; we don’t see it as disrespectful. I always
enjoy educating people about Ramadan as many may not understand the reasonings behind why we fast.”
Faizan Muhammad, Group Head of Commercial Finance, said: “I enjoy the communal aspects of Ramadan such
as joining friends and family to open the iftar. Ramadan also provides an opportunity to reflect and become
more empathetic towards the needs of the less fortunate. However, being completely honest, I also spend
parts of the day counting down the hours before I can eat and drink again”.