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ABU DHABI, 11th August, 2022 (WAM) — A local English-language daily commented that the success of the Sharjah government sector’s four-day work week could open up a new phase of life and employment after the pandemic, adding: “It’s a refreshing change from what we know about traditional office work.”
“While the UAE Federal Department expects employees to work full-time from Monday to Thursday and half-day on Friday, Sharjah has opted for a four-day week with three days off for government workers. Work is becoming more virtual and the introduction of weekly The six-to-Sunday weekend has prompted the emirate to reduce the working day, and the positive results are eye-opening,” Khaleej Times said in an editorial on Thursday.
Business has also picked up, with restaurants reporting an increase in customers who prefer to eat out. People who deal with government departments also said they were very satisfied with the experience.
“On an individual level, employees of government entities have achieved work-life balance, which makes employers and families happy. The workforce is generally optimistic and the Sharjah initiative may be a form of the future,” the paper said. noted and asked, “However, the question is, is such a move good for the economy in the long run?”
“The pandemic has disrupted work, with employers offering more options for workers who were getting almost more from home during the height of the crisis in 2020 and early last year. Many have since embraced digital work experiences and have been reluctant to return to work . . Even if the coronavirus continues to increase cases, albeit at a much slower rate than two years ago, the office is still in place for health reasons,” the editorial continued.
Flexible working hours, hybrid models, remote work and work from home (WFH) are now considered the norm, and tech companies have experimented with models that shorten commutes while increasing productivity. But as the number of global cases has fallen, companies are asking employees to return to the office because they foresee a recession. Globally, Iceland became the first country to switch to the four-day work week back in 2015, but in the wake of the pandemic, Belgium, Spain, Ireland, Scotland and even Japan have offered companies to try the four-day workweek The Daily Mail explained the option to cut staff wages.
What must be understood here is that the nature of work and the time employees put in have changed in the wake of the pandemic. In some industries, 10-15 hours is the norm, as is night shifts, which greatly affects worker well-being, morale and health. The newspaper noted that the sleep cycle was disrupted, causing employees to feel tired and exhausted frequently.
The UK is the latest to experiment with a six-month, four-day workweek. The project will run for six months, during which 3,300 employees will be brought home 100% while working 80% of the time at 100% productivity. Sharjah has implemented Smart Mode and should be seen as a pioneer in this field.
“Ultimately, it’s up to employees and employers in the long-term to drive profits and the recovery of the economy as a whole,” the Dubai-based daily said.
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