Happy Islamic New Year to all that celebrate!

Stephanie Thomas

Written By Reem Al Kalbani

18th July 2023

Share on:

As organisations strive to create inclusive and diverse work environments, it is essential to recognise and respect the cultural and religious observances of employees. One such significant event is the Islamic New Year, also known as the Hijri New Year, which holds great importance in the Muslim calendar.

For this blog we asked our colleague, Reem Al Kabani, to explain the differences between the Islamic calendar and the widely used Gregorian calendar, how Muslim’s celebrate this special time of year and how employers can support Muslim employees during this time of reflection and renewal.

Recognising the differences between the Gregorian calendar and Islamic calendar

The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western or Christian calendar, was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. It is a solar calendar with 12 months of varying lengths. It has 365 days (366 in a leap year) and is used in the Western world. In contrast, the Islamic calendar, known as the Hijri calendar, is a lunar calendar with 12 months alternating between 29 and 30 days. A Hijri year is about 11 days shorter than a Gregorian year, comprising 354-355 days. The Islamic calendar follows the different phases of the moon’s cycle, starting with the crescent moon, progressing to a full moon (representing the midpoint of the month), and concluding with another crescent moon, marking the end of one month and the beginning of another.

This year, the Islamic New Year, which marks the beginning of the Muslim year, will fall on the 18th of July in the Gregorian calendar. It coincides with the journey of the Prophet Mohammed from Mecca to Medina in Saudi Arabia in 622 CE, known as the “Hijra” or “Hegira.” This historical event holds immense significance for Muslims worldwide. While Islamic New Year celebrations vary among individuals and families, they are often characterised by quiet introspection, intimate gatherings, and personal reflection. Some individuals prefer to celebrate alone, reflecting upon the past year, setting goals for the future, and engaging in acts of charity or attending community events.

How employers can actively support their Muslim employees during this meaningful time of the year and ensure an inclusive work environment.

  1. Raise awareness and foster understanding. 

Many individuals may not be familiar with the Islamic New Year and its significance, so encourage dialogue and understanding within the workplace by sharing information about the Islamic New Year. By fostering awareness and understanding, employers can create an environment of respect and inclusivity.

Organisations should be prioritising Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) strategies. EDI is not just a nice-to-have, but an essential investment in organisational health and success, especially when it comes to attracting and retaining top talent, boosting innovation, and improving bottom-line results.

  1. Be flexible and considerate. 

In many Muslim-majority countries, the Islamic New Year is a public holiday. As an employer in the UK, be mindful of this and provide flexibility when considering time-off requests from Muslim employees. Accommodating people’s needs demonstrates your commitment to inclusivity and religious diversity.

  1. Accommodate religious observance. 

Foster an inclusive workplace culture by promoting mutual respect, understanding, and acceptance of diverse religious practices. Muslim employees need to pray five times a day, and it is important to provide them with a space to do so. This could be a designated prayer room, a quiet area, or even a private office.

If you are looking to make your organisation more inclusive by updating your policies or adding new polices, AdviserPlus provide progressive policy bundles, including a religious observance policy that can be easily implemented into your existing policy set.

  1. Encourage volunteering and giving back.

Islamic New Year is a time for reflection and setting goals for the upcoming year. To show support as an employer, you can encourage employees to engage in acts of charity and community service, organise team volunteering opportunities or support employee-led initiatives that contribute to the greater good. By encouraging philanthropy and community involvement, employers can create a positive impact while honouring the spirit of Islamic New Year.

As employers, embracing and supporting cultural and religious diversity is crucial for fostering an inclusive workplace. By acknowledging and celebrating events like the Islamic New Year, organisations can create an environment where employees feel valued, respected, and able to freely express their religious beliefs.

Is your organisation inclusive?

A truly inclusive workplace is one where all employees feel valued, respected, and supported, regardless of their background, identity, or beliefs. It is a place where everyone feels like they belong and can contribute to their full potential.

Take this assessment to evaluate how inclusive your organisation is.

Speak to our HR experts

Call us today on

0844 327 2293

Contact us

Insights

Understanding day-one rights: A major shift in UK employment law

Although the changes are not expected to be implemented until 2026, it is crucial for organisations to start reviewing their HR policies, technology stack, and enhancing managerial capabilities to ensure they are prepared to meet these new legal obligations. This blog explores what these changes will mean for both businesses and employees.
Read more

Insights

World Menopause Day 2024

World Menopause Day, held annually on 18th October, highlights the importance of raising awareness about menopause in the workplace. HR professionals play a crucial role in ensuring employees are supported during this life phase, which impacts 51% of the global population. Building a culture of empathy and understanding is essential for promoting inclusivity.
Read more

Insights

Preventing sexual harassment: A new legal duty – Your questions answered

Employers need to prepare to comply with the new sexual harassment law. Download our useful checklist to get you started.
Read more

Insights

The importance of mental health support in the workplace

In recognition of World Mental Health Day, Jane Bradshaw-Jones, HR Business Partner and Mental Health First Aider at AdviserPlus, shares her valuable insights into the critical role mental health support plays in the workplace.
Read more

Insights

Are your managers prepared for evolving workplace change?

Workplaces today are more complex than ever, with rising mental health...
Read more

Insights

New sexual harassment law: What employers need to know

Sexual harassment in the workplace is a serious issue with far-reachin...
Read more

Insights

From accidental to accomplished managers: Transform HR

With the growing complexity of managing people in hybrid work environm...
Read more

Insights

Disability Pride insights for disability equality

In this blog, we discuss the importance of creating inclusive environments for disabled employees and how to break down barriers.
Read more

Insights

Navigating the growing challenge of employment tribunal claims

Did you know that in 2023, the UK experienced a significant increase i...
Read more

Insights

5 reasons spreadsheets shouldn’t manage employee relations

Employee relations data provides a goldmine of insights into workforce...
Read more

Insights

CIPD Festival of Work 2024

The future of work is human-centric and data-driven The CIPD Festival...
Read more

Insights

HR empowerment: Preparing for post-election business change

With the general election date announced as July 4th, 2024, and local...
Read more

Insights

Preparing for change: Why prioritising employee relations transformation is now so urgent

Now is the time to assess your employee relations strategy With the lo...
Read more

Insights

Addressing the gap: 1 in 5 large enterprises lack employee relations tools

Why transforming employee relations in UK enterprises is vital The bus...
Read more

Insights

Colleague Spotlight – Kath Harris

Celebrating Kath’s 20 years’ at AdviserPlus Reaching a mil...
Read more

Insights

Conquering workplace stress: The impact on employees and organisations

Businesses are currently facing the highest rates of absence in over a...
Read more

Insights

From reactive to ready: Empowering HR through digital transformation

Many organisations, even some of the largest, struggle to identify the...
Read more

Insights

C-Suite & HR: Aligning employee relations priorities for better business outcomes

Bridging the gap: Aligning understanding on the value of employee rela...
Read more

Insights

The Empowering People Group Awards 2024: Celebrating our exceptional staff

The Empowering People Group Awards: Celebrating our exceptional staff...
Read more

Insights

From rhetoric to ROI: Driving strategic employee relations for better HR ROI

Move beyond the mere rhetoric and dive deeper into this compelling business case for investing in employee relations tech transformation, exploring how modern ER solutions can unlock substantial return on investment.
Read more

Insights

Supporting mental health across generations in the workplace

Supporting mental health across generations in the workplace A recent...
Read more

Insights

Employee relations transformation: Unlock substantial hidden savings for your organisation

Did you know there is a way to streamline processes, increase efficiency and reduce cost at the same time? Digitally transforming employee relations (ER) processes does just that.
Read more

Insights

Colleague Spotlight – Karoline Backlund

Meet Karoline and read more about her AdviserPlus career journey At Ad...
Read more

Insights

Key HR trends in 2023: Shaping 2024 and beyond

As we enter 2024, the world of Human Resources continues to rapidly ev...
Read more