Dubai to introduce flexible work hours

Our Correspondent

From August 16, Dubai will activate a flexible working system across all government departments, said the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) on August 8.

This is expected to increase employee productivity and happiness and is based on the directives of the Strategic Affairs Council of Dubai’s Executive Council.

According to the August 8 circular, the flexible working hours in the morning period will start from 6:30am until 8:30am; the employee has to complete the official working hours fixed by the government department.

Abdulla Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director General of DGHR Department, has said the decision is designed to ensure the safety of employees, especially in emergency weather conditions, as well as reduce traffic congestion in the morning to or from workplace, achieve job well-being, reduce attendance delays and leave permission.
The circular has outlined certain obligations from all parties. Therefore, human resources departments of government entities are to amend internal regulations related to attendance and departure hours in line with the flexible working system.

However, the circular excluded employees whose job requires continuous communication with the public and those working on shifts, unless the government entity decides to apply flexible working hours for them without affecting the provision of its services.

Dubai Government employees returned to the workplace in phases from May following the closure of offices in March to contain the spread of COVID-19. Initially, starting at 30 per cent, then 50 per cent, the full workforce returned to government offices in Dubai in mid-June.

However, employees found their workplaces very different, with signs explaining social distancing protocols and reminders to sanitise their hands.

Employees with compromised immunity and chronic health conditions, pregnant women and people with disabilities have been told that they can continue to work remotely from home.