In the UAE, climate and working conditions are considered before developing workplace polices for summer, mindful of the need for work-life balance and maintain the health of safety of workers.
The human resources department in Dubai has launched a pilot programme, ‘Our Summer is Flexible’, aimed at reducing working hours in government agencies during summer, based on their requirements, the need to enhance the performance and quality of life of its employees and provide flexibility in the workplace.
The initiative, which started on August 12 and runs until September 30, features reducing working hours to seven and suspending work on Fridays.
Fifteen government agencies are participating in this programme which is line with the strategies and forward-looking visions under ‘Dubai Quality of Life Strategy 2033’, concerned with quality of life and placing people as a fundamental focus.
Before the initiative was launched, a survey was conducted to explore the possibility of entities adopting reduced working hours during summer, allowing employees to carry out additional activities after working hours, and reducing energy consumption in government departments.
The proposal received widespread support from the participants.
The HR department said that during the period, it will provide the necessary support to the entities and communicate with them the results of implementing the system on employees and their productivity. It would also monitor observations and feedback periodically to submit a final report explaining the results of the initiative and its final recommendations regarding the initiative and the possibility of applying it to various government departments operating under the Human Resources Management Law in Dubai during the summer period in future.
As for the idea of working four days a week, it is a relatively recent proposal that is gaining global acceptance as part of reconsidering how to balance work with personal life. Many studies indicate that reducing working days can improve overall employee productivity and reduce levels of stress and fatigue. For the UAE, this policy can be effective in enhancing employee happiness, increasing job satisfaction, and promoting a sustainable economy, especially if implemented in conjunction with other strategies such as remote working or flexible working hours.
Research indicates that reducing working hours can motivate employees to work more efficiently during the remaining working hours. Reducing exposure to high temperatures also reduces health risks, while the four-day system gives employees more time to rest and relax. Working four days a week can be a competitive advantage that attracts talent from other markets as well as improving the work-life balance.
Personally, I find this system wonderful, and I hope that officials in the Civil Service Bureau will follow up on the results of this pioneering Emirati initiative. If the results are satisfactory and effective, then why not apply it in our country?
Danny Miller and Isabelle Le Breton-Miller, authors of the book Managing for the Long Term, say that imitating success is not a defect, but rather is evidence of absorbing lessons and morals and benefiting from them.
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