Government decision could benefit private sector workers
A Dubai government decision to introduce flexible working hours could lead to more freedom for private sector employees to choose when and where they want to work.
From next Sunday, all staff who are able to can opt to start work any time between 6.30am and 8.30am, as long as they complete their contracted hours.
The government hopes the move will help to ease congestion during peak hours, improve work-life balance and give employees more time to devote to their hobbies.
Experts believe it could also inspire more private sector companies to offer alternative working arrangements.
The coronavirus pandemic forced businesses to be more flexible with staff, as they grappled with social distancing requirements and other factors, such as remote learning.
“Companies are now very aware that consultants, certainly people like us, can actually work from home and still perform their job on a day-today basis,” said David Mackenzie, group managing director of recruitment consultancy Mackenzie Jones.
That led to companies offering employees the choice to continue working from home after restrictions were lifted.
“We are seeing not only multinational organisations in Jebel Ali doing it, but we are also seeing banks implementing the same thing, and of course going to the office when required,” said Vijay Gandhi, regional director for Korn Ferry Digital, a global consultancy.
Such arrangements are often driven by personal circumstances, such as employees with chronic conditions, elderly parents, or children being educated at home, he said.
“I don’t think I have seen any employer forcing people to come to the office,” Mr Gandhi said.
But experts say that employers also benefit from the arrangement, because more staff working from home means fewer overheads for companies.
“If you look at our building here, we have had six companies move out and move into serviced offices,” Mr Mackenzie said.
“A big advertising office next to us which had 8,000 square feet [743 square metres] has just left and gone into a serviced working office just down the road in Jumeirah Lakes Towers. I think they have 15 desks rather than 50.”
By introducing flexible working hours, the Dubai government is sending a message to older, more established companies, which do not believe you are working unless “your jacket is on the back of the seat, or your coffee cup is still warm”, Mr Mackenzie said.
“It sends a very clear message that things are changing and they’re changing for ever, basically.”
It may only be the start of even more flexible working arrangements for employees of the Dubai government, said Claire Donnelly, from Mike Hoff Consulting, a business and HR consultancy company in Dubai.
“They are still in every day. But perhaps the next stage will be they need to come in only three days of the week,” she said.