Dubai Reduces Work Hours, Suspends Friday Ops
Dubai authorities have revealed a pilot program to decrease the working hours of government entities for the summer. According to the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR), work on Fridays will also be halted.
During the period from August 12 to September 30, 15 government entities in Dubai will implement the 'Our Flexible Summer' program, reducing work hours to seven.
The majority of government workers in Dubai have a weekend lasting two and a half days (Friday half-day, Saturday, and Sunday). Through this program, workers in eligible government agencies will have an extended weekend for a period of seven weeks.
The DGHR did not indicate the specific organizations participating in the pilot program, but stated its goal is to improve flexibility in the workplace. It provides workplace safety in the summer and promotes a healthier work-life balance, it stated.
The department had carried out a survey to evaluate the readiness of government agencies to decrease working hours in the summer season. The effort will also aid in decreasing energy usage in government agencies. The survey received strong backing for the proposal, showing a willingness to embrace changes that will enhance employee work-life balance and well-being.
The DGHR will assess how the initiative affects both employees and overall productivity. Research conducted in both the UAE and globally has shown that reducing working hours can improve productivity.
Earlier, Sharjah stated that its workers experienced an 88 percent boost in productivity and a 90 percent increase in job satisfaction due to the implementation of a shorter work week. Additionally, the change resulted in increased customer satisfaction, with a service approval rating of 94 percent.
The Director General of Human Resources stated that they will also evaluate the feedback regularly to produce a final report that outlines the results, suggestions, and suitability for different government organizations.
Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, head of the DGHR, stated that the introduction of this initiative will help enhance Dubai's competitiveness by implementing clever strategies and creative measures to strengthen human resources. The goal of the initiative is to improve employees' well-being and encourage responsible use of government resources, establishing Dubai as the perfect city for a high-quality lifestyle.
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