Living inclusion at Jacobs: The importance of flexibility in a multicultural workplace

Created by VERCIDA for Jacobs

 

Mohamed Ali talks about how the inclusive culture at Jacobs contributes positively to his work and to the whole company.

 

Mohamed Ali, Sales Operations Associate at Jacobs

 

At university, I studied civil engineering because I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do, but I enjoyed physics and maths, and by extension, problem-solving, as well as working with people. I like bringing people together, delivering projects and working towards a common goal. 

After completing my master's degree in project and enterprise management, I joined the graduate scheme at Jacobs. I’ve already been able to work in numerous parts of the business, including an internal global transformation effort reimagining our tools and processes to help innovate the ways we work, and a flood resilience programme focused on protecting London and the wider Thames Estuary for generations to come. 

My current role is sales operations associate/manager and now I’m halfway through a secondment in Australia. I have the chance to work on new growth opportunities and win work aligned with our strategy. As well as being a great opportunity for me professionally, living away from my family home for the first time – and in a different country – has enhanced my personal development by pushing me beyond my comfort zone.

 

Flexibility is key to inclusion

Family is very important to me. I’m the oldest of five children and I speak to them almost every day. As a Muslim, there are dates in the Islamic calendar that are really important to me and my family and one of the great things about Jacobs is the flexible public holiday swaps. For me, it means I can work on a bank holiday and then take a day off for an occasion such as Eid. This is when we all go to prayers together as a family, give donations to charity and gifts, and then celebrate with lots of delicious food.

This flexibility is available for all Jacobs employees in the UK and Ireland, and some other regions too. It means that anyone can swap a public holiday for a day that is more meaningful to them. It is part of Jacobs creating a diverse and inclusive culture, which attracts people from different backgrounds and makes the company a welcoming place to work, where all cultures are respected. The company’s pledge is “Challenging today. Reinventing tomorrow.” and I believe it’s what Jacobs is striving to do all day, every day.

During Ramadan, when I fast from sunrise to sunset, I can adjust my working hours, so I might start work earlier, take a break during the day, and then come back to work for a few more hours and break my fast. Ramadan is a challenge for Muslims, especially in Western society. As well as being a time to reflect on one's life, we try to get involved with charitable giving, refrain from sin, and be grateful for what we have.

People are really inquisitive about my faith and ask questions about Ramadan. At Jacobs, we start most of our meetings with a Culture of Caring moment, which is a powerful way for people to discuss topics and spread our TogetherBeyond culture of living inclusion every day. It could be something as simple as sharing a health and safety message, such as using sunscreen when working outdoors or sharing your own culture with colleagues.

 

"One of the great things about Jacobs is the flexible public holiday swaps. For me, it means I can work on a bank holiday and then take a day off for an occasion such as Eid."

 

Family Iftar (breaking fast) Dinner

 

I gave a Culture of Caring presentation to the Growth & Sales team as we were approaching Ramadan, so colleagues would be aware that some people would be fasting. We are experiencing incredible organic growth in the Middle East at the moment, so it is important for colleagues to keep cultural considerations in mind, such as during Ramadan, when they are living and working in countries that have different traditions and religious festivals.

Some of our senior leaders even took part in a fasting challenge, where they refrained from food and drink from sunrise to sunset, and shared their experiences. 

Our TogetherBeyond team and the business have been – and continue to be – building a blueprint for an inclusive workplace, respecting diverse cultures in every way and enhancing our culture of inclusiveness. Jacobs is a true disruptor in this space – its inclusivity is one of the key differentiators in our industry. 

It is a great way to attract and retain the best talent and help drive innovative solutions to our clients, with efforts amplified through our eight employee network groups, all of whom play a critical role in fostering a culture of belonging. As someone who is still in the early stages of their career, it is encouraging to witness Jacobs leading by example.

 

Inside Cambridge Central Mosque

 

 

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