Doha: Over 80 percent of the working population in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) believe that Ramadan does not have an adverse impact on their performance, many saying that the Holy month in fact increases their consumption of goods and services.
Responding to a regional survey by Bayt.com, a leading job site, eight out of 10 (81.9 percent) respondents said that their consumption of goods and services increases during Ramadan — to a large extent, for 50.3 percent, The Peninsula reported Wednesday.
Ramadan is seen as a time of increased socialisation between colleagues, according to 84.7 percent, although more than half (55.4 percent) of respondents claim that employees tend to become short-tempered during the month. However, 25.2 percent of respondents disagree.
'Ramadan in the Mena workplace' poll was collected online from May 20 to June 24 with 7,394 respondents from Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.
Of the surveyed, 44.5 percent say employer efficiency is not affected, and 55 percent claim that important decisions and vital meetings are not postponed until the holy month is over. Nine out of 10 professionals (86.9 percent) say companies they work in have different official working hours during Ramadan compared to the rest of the year.
In terms of impact on performance, 58 per cent of professionals say more working hours throughout the holy month would have a positive impact on their performance.
The sentiment is mirrored when it comes to company performance, with 42.1 percent agreeing that more working hours will have a positive impact on their company's performance although 41.3 percent "strongly agree" that more working hours would have a positive impact.
Business is slower in Ramadan, according to 74.7 percent of respondents — 46.4 percent of whom believe so. This could be attributed to the fact that 69 percent of professionals claim that colleagues tend to take holidays during the holy month.
Another possible reason for lower productivity according to 81.1 percent of respondents could be people staying up late. As a way to increase motivation, 90 percent believe that special bonuses offered to employees in Ramadan will be motivating.
Ramadan is seen as a time when there is a noticeable increase in charitable activities, with 87.8 percent saying their companies are more charitable during the holy month. It is considered to be more difficult to find a job during Ramadan, with 44.6 percent saying it is harder to do so than at any other time of the year and 31.9 percent believe it is easier.
Comments
| Quick linksNews
National
International
Regional
Politics
Education & Career
Business
Science & Technology
Health
Views & Analysis
The Funny Side
© 2012 Awaz Multimedia & Publications. All rights reserved.
BJP among parties spied upon by US, says report; Uproar in IndiaAnswering queries from media persons here, external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said he had only heard about and not seen the revelations but said it was "extremely disconcerting" that India's privacy laws "concerning an . ... More
Ramadan begins in India, other neighboring countriesPeople went to mosques in larger numbers than usual as the first day of the holy month of Ramadan started Monday in almost entire India including Pakistan, Bangladesh and other neighboring countries. .... More
Congress and caste parties decimated, whither Indian Muslims?By giving them frontline roles in communal conflicts, the Sangh Parivar has dignified Mochis, Khatiks (fruit sellers), Lohars (blacksmiths), Nayis (barbers), Valmikis (toilet cleaners), dhobis (laundry washers) in large numbers as Hindutva's foot soldiers..... More
Quality deficit can only be annulled by modern, advanced machines: ExpertsThe skill and talent that the weavers in Malegaon claim to have are being compromised by the outdated and discarded machines that they are using, and if they really want to survive with their ancestor's more than a century-year-old trade, they . .... More
Also Read: 'Show faith in Malegaon weavers, they have potential to return back'