Dubai’s four-day week advances the UAE well-being evolution
Another week and another headline about another initiative in Dubai designed to help people thrive, putting well-being front and centre.
Today media across the UAE were reporting as the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) announced the pilot launch of its ‘Our Flexible Summer’ initiative, a progressive move designed to reduce working hours for participating government entities during the summer.
As part of the pilot phase, 15 government entities will adopt a reduced working schedule, cutting work time to seven hours per day and suspending operations on Fridays. The trial will run from August 12, 2024, to September 30, 2024, with the goal of improving employee wellbeing by enhancing their social lives and ensuring workplace safety during the intense summer period, thereby promoting a healthier work-life balance.
His Excellency Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director General of DGHR Department, emphasized the initiative’s significance: “We are thrilled to announce that DGHR will be launching the ‘Our Flexible Summer’ initiative, in line with our long-standing efforts to nurture a flexible work environment that promotes the work-life balance of government employees, in accordance with best international practices.
“The launch will also further our vision to empower human resources by developing smart solutions and innovative policies to uplift Dubai’s competitiveness. The initiative aims to enhance employees’ quality of life and promote sustainable use of government resources, positioning Dubai as the ideal city for a superior lifestyle.”
In preparation for this launch, DGHR conducted a survey to gauge the opinions of various government entities regarding the reduction of working hours during the summer. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, indicating a strong willingness to embrace changes that promote work-life balance and employee wellbeing
It comes little over a week after Dubai Health Authority announced its AED105 million initiative – the Mental Wealth Framework – designed to boost well-being in the city, with a particular focus on education, early detection, intervention, and prevention, identifying how helping all segments of society deal with the pace of life, especially as burnout figures around the world soar.
The recent moves reflect a wider movement within the UAE at a government level to promote well-being, with the new mental health law being adopted earlier this year, making it illegal for employers to discriminate against employees with mental health issues. Plus initiatives such as the Parent Friendly Label from the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority designed to encourage workplaces which support parents.
Learning from the UK’s Experience
Dubai’s four-day workweek initiative echoes a similar experiment conducted in the United Kingdom, which yielded remarkable results. In 2022, the UK launched a pilot program involving 61 companies and over 3,000 workers to test the viability of a four-day workweek.
The results were overwhelmingly positive, with participants reporting significant improvements in job satisfaction, mental health, and overall work-life balance.
Specifically, the UK trial revealed that 71% of employees reported lower levels of burnout, 62% found it easier to balance work with social life, and 92% of companies involved decided to continue with the four-day workweek after the trial.
Furthermore, companies experienced a 35% increase in productivity, demonstrating that reducing work hours does not necessarily mean a decline in output.
Will the private sector take the hint?
These outcomes align with the goals of Dubai’s ‘Our Flexible Summer’ initiative, strongly suggesting that a reduced workweek can lead to more engaged and satisfied employees, ultimately benefiting both the workforce and the organizations.
The initiative not only reflects a commitment to innovative work policies but also positions Dubai as a leader in adopting global best practices to improve employee wellbeing and productivity.
That said as the government continues to point the way, the question remains will the private sector now wholeheartedly embrace the direction of travel and begin taking well-being seriously?
Using recent research from Gallup’s Global State of the Workplace disengaged employees could be costing UAE businesses up to $40 billion a year in lost productivity.
Given the government’s commitment to well-being, and the money being lost, surely the clock is ticking for companies who ignore this fundamental issue.
