Mahmoud Ahmad



I cannot understand the relationship between Ramadan and finding excuses not to do any work. Over the years it has come to pass that we have made this holy month synonymous to less work — in another word an excuse for our own tardiness and laziness.



Sadly, the month that Islam encourages us to practice self-discipline, be pious and charitable and do other valued things while putting in hard work, is being used by us to escape from working harder while citing fasting, lack of focus and tiredness as the main reasons for our literally being zombies at the work place.



It is now deeply rooted in our minds that Ramadan is a month where employees will be excused for coming late or even not showing up to work. And, if they do show up to work, then they either leave earlier than the six hours of allotted work hours or are simply not productive.



Ironically, it seems, that our productivity is tied to our stomachs. When the stomach is empty, it is acceptable for the employee to come late to work and to be less productive. It is acceptable for the employee to delay paperwork of people over any excuse. It is acceptable for the employee to shout and yell at people simply because it is Ramadan, a month for delaying work.



How did we reach this stage and since when is the concept of laziness attached to the month of Ramadan? Whether in government or private service, some employees avoid people so they will not have to do any work. They often are not on their desks and are found in the back office, either sleeping or relaxing with colleagues chatting about their activities the previous night till Sahoor or just whiling away their time.



Muslims in the subcontinent and Western countries welcome this month with a fervor that is marked with piety and hard work. They do the same work, whether in Ramadan or in normal days, and have to endure the test of fasting that is more rigorous for their non-Muslim colleagues who do not fast. Though they are not eating or drinking (from dawn to dusk) they maintain the same level of discipline and productivity. Why shouldn’t the same concept (of productivity) be applied here?



In my opinion, the reason for this lackadaisical attitude is that it is planted in the heads of all people working in government departments that Ramadan is a month to do less work, from the top management to the low-ranked employee. The same attitude has sponged off in the private sector too, with many employees taking it for granted that it is month for less work.



I sat with a group of friends — some working in government and some in private sectors — and broached this subject trying to find an underlying reason. Most admitted that they are not giving their 100 percent at work because of Ramadan. Some of them came with really droll excuses like, ‘I’m a smoking addict and cannot function without a cigarette.’ Others admitted that they are not at their 100 percent without their morning coffee or their daily fix of caffeine (at least four or five cups of coffee daily), which are lame excuses. Others simply said that they just couldn’t give their best performance at work when their co-workers are relaxing or sleeping in the back of the office, with the knowledge of their supervisors and managers. Some have the herd mentality of following what others do, while some believe in the adage that if you can’t change them then join them — bringing about a collective slowdown of sorts.



Sometimes I wonder if there is any sort of evaluation of the performance of employees during the month of Ramadan? Is Ramadan an exceptional month? Is Ramadan a month when we tolerate tardiness? It shouldn’t be. During the month of Ramadan punishment should be imposed on those who are lazy.



We have stressed the concept that Ramadan is not a month of productivity by reducing work hours and change in timing. We have taken into consideration that employees will be lazy and their lifestyles will change and therefore we have to adapt to that instead of fighting it.



I question this. Why do we need to change the timing to come to work from 7 a.m., which is the normal time, to 10 a.m.? If offices run on their regular schedule then there is every possibility that employees would not be spending most of their time in late activities, which has a knock-on effect on the employees’ productivity.



People should kick out the thought that Ramadan is a month when one needs to change one’s lifestyle and become lazy. This will be a first step in enhancing productivity.



It is known that ‘Work is Worship’. Let us put that in front of us when we are meeting people or when we are thinking of delaying work.



Instead of ‘Fasting from doing work’ we need to be ‘Fasting from becoming lazy’. People should exert more effort during this holy month because this is the month when reward is doubled. Let us work to erase the lazy thoughts from our minds in Ramadan.



— The writer can be contacted at mahmad@saudigazette.com.sa