Job search activities increase during Ramadan, according to nearly half the respondents to a recent survey in the Mena region.

The ‘Ramadan in the Mena Workplace’ poll, recently conducted by Bayt.com, a leading job site in the Middle East, has revealed that almost 95 per cent of respondents in the Mena respect the spirit of Ramadan, regardless of their religion.

Over the course of Ramadan, Muslims continue the normal routine of their life while maintaining a strict fast every day, from the break of dawn until sunset. For the majority (81.9 per cent) of survey respondents in the Mena, Ramadan is a time for spirituality and good deeds, in line with the pious theme of the Holy Month. A small minority (3.6 per cent) believe that it is a time for fun, friends and family gatherings, while 4 per cent think that Ramadan is a time to rest due to less work.

Respondents said that their lives change in a number of ways during Ramadan. More than half are committed to more pious acts such as fasting, praying and reciting the Holy Qur’an. 14 per cent said they are more involved in charitable activities and good deeds during the Holy Month, while 1 out of 10 say that they spend more on food and outings. 9.4 per cent of Mena respondents spend more time with their family during Ramadan. On the other hand, 10.8 per cent of respondents say that their life does not change at all during this period.

During the month of Ramadan, absenteeism in the workplace increases according to 58.8 per cent of respondents, while 41.2 per cent believe the opposite is true. In addition, 77.6 per cent of Mena respondents believe that employees are less productive during Ramadan, with 35.9 per cent believing it to a large extent. However, more than 2 out of 10 people surveyed say that employee productivity remains unchanged during this time.  

Interestingly, almost half of those polled believe that job search activities among employees increase during Ramadan, and 16 per cent also believe that hiring in their company increases as well. However, more than 4 out of 10 respondents believe that hiring doesn’t increase at all, or that hiring practices don’t change at all during this period.
 
“During Ramadan, the Mena workplace changes quite substantially, and with the Holy Month predicted to begin on or around June 18, it is important for employers, employees and job seekers to have a clear view of what to expect during this time,” said Suhail Masri, VP of Sales, Bayt.com.

“Another trend we noticed is that almost half the people polled say that job search activities increase during this time. Job seekers can stay up-to-date with the latest jobs by leveraging handy technology, such as the Bayt.com mobile app, to set up job alerts and get notifications about jobs suited for their profile.

“Ramadan is a month of spirituality, family and blessings revolved around practicing good deeds, charity and kindness, and at Bayt.com we would like to wish everyone in the Mena region a Ramadan Kareem,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service