Do not be surprised if you go to a government department during Ramadan and find employees absent or fast asleep during work hours; this happens a lot during the fasting month. And if you are an employee, then don't be surprised if you find strangers in your office keeping an eye on you. They may be inspectors from the Control and Investigation Board conducting on-the-spot inspections to ensure that employees comply with the five-hour (10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) Ramadan work schedule. Sources at the Control and Investigation Board told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that no departments will be excluded from these visits, which will be more frequent than they were last year. As instructed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, more emphasis will be placed on institutions that provide Umrah services such as the General Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques, the Ministry of Haj and Islamic Affairs, hospitals, and medical centers, the sources said. “Negligence in performing duties during Ramadan is not permissible and is against Ramadan teachings,” says Dr. Ali Bin Abbas Al-Hakami, a member of the Board of Senior Ulema and Higher Judicial Council. Many people have turned Ramadan into a month of eating, watching TV and staying up late, and these factors affect work in offices, which is not permissible in Islam, Dr. Al-Hakami added. A study conducted by the Institute of Public Administration found a number of problems with conduct among employees. According to the study, half the workers are late for work; 54 percent leave work to run personal errands; 69 percent are absent without excuses; 22 percent leave two hours early; and 12 percent leave three hours before their offices close. These percentages increase during Ramadan, when workers become less active because they stay up late at night. Ahmad Zarah, a legal consultant and lawyer, called for more monitoring of employees' performance during Ramadan. “More inspection visits should be paid to government officials during Ramadan,” he said. Dr. Muhammad Shaoosh, a psychology consultant and vice chairman of the Saudi Society of Psychology, said that social norms and traditions, which are detrimental to health, affect work in offices. “The basic prerequisite of religious obligations is to commit to your work.” Hattab Al-Eneizi, the Ministry of Labor spokesman, said private sector companies should comply with Ramadan work hours set by the ministry and as has been the case in previous years, violators will be penalized.Sorry, I'm fasting!n 50% are late for workn 54% leave work to run personal errands n 69% are absent without excuses n 22% leave two hours earlyn 12% leave three hours before their offices closeCommon excusesn I'm fastingn The weather is hotn I stayed up late last nightn I'm exhausted n I get grumpy while fasting __
