Dubai launches citywide 4 day work week for government employees: Will the private sector follow?
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What is Dubai's 'Our Flexible Summer' initiative?
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This Islamic New Year brings a summer gift to government employees in Dubai , a rare perk that a tiny percentage of people enjoy worldwide. Starting July 1, 2025, government employees in Dubai will shift to a four-day work week or reduced summer hours under the 'Our Flexible Summer' initiative. The Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) launches this to improve work-life balance and productivity, and it will run until September 12, 2025.This flexible work hour announcement is followed by a successful pilot program launched in 2024. This announcement comes amid a global wave of interest in four-day work weeks.Cities and companies in countries like Japan, the UK, Iceland, Australia, and Canada have already implemented or piloted reduced working hours, with many reporting improvements in employee retention, mental health, and overall productivity.The initiative, introduced by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR), is to create a better work environment for public sector employees during the summer months.With the reduced working hours, employee well-being increases, productivity increases, and workers can spend more time with their families, especially during the school break.Last year's pilot involved 21 government entities and reportedly led to higher levels of employee satisfaction, happiness, and efficiency.The flexible work policy applies to all employees of Dubai government entities. However, the work schedules will vary slightly, depending on which group an employee is placed in.Government employees will be divided into two groups with the following options:In Group 1, employees work from Monday to Thursday for 8 hours daily, with Friday off, for a total of 32 work hours.The 2nd Group works 7 hours per day from Monday to Thursday and 4.5 hours on Friday, for a total of 32.5 hours per week.According to Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director-General of DGHR, the move reflects Dubai's ongoing commitment to creating a people-centric government that balances institutional efficiency with employee well-being.'This initiative demonstrates our firm commitment to enhancing the government work environment, making it more adaptable and responsive to the needs of employees and the community,' he said.The initiative also aligns with the UAE's 'Year of Community', which aims to reinforce family ties and overall social well-being.Currently, the 4-day work week and reduced hours apply only to public sector employees. However, there is growing support for expanding flexible work policies to the private sector.In a white paper released in January and a government survey, Dubai officials pointed out that broader adoption of remote work and flexible hours could help ease traffic congestion and improve productivity.Although there are no signs of the government officially introducing an immediate remote working policy or reduced working hours, this suggests the government's preference for such a policy if it is implemented in the future.The study also found that a hybrid model, which combines a centralized workplace with a work-from-home option, enhances productivity, inclusivity, and employee well-being.Additionally, it revealed that companies adopting a remote work policy can attract a broader pool of candidates, including those with at-home caregiving responsibilities or individuals limited by their proximity to an office.
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