In implementation of the directives of the Strategic Affairs Council of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, the Dubai Government's Human Resources Department issued a circular requiring the activation of flexible working hours in government agencies in the Emirate of Dubai, starting from Sunday August 16, 2020, with the aim of enhancing employee productivity and raising their happiness indicators.
The circular specified the flexible hours of attendance in the morning period for Dubai government employees, so that attendance to work starts from 6:30 in the morning until 8:30 in the morning, provided that the employee completes the number of official working hours determined in the government entity he works for, in accordance with the Dubai Government's Human Resources Management Law. No. 8 of 2018 or the legislation related to human resources applied by that authority.
The Director General of Dubai Government's Human Resources Department, Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, affirmed the Dubai government's keenness on the happiness of its employees and the upgrading of the human resource in Dubai. Human resources are the main pillar in the wheel of progress, so the appropriate atmosphere must be created for them in order to create, innovate and effectively contribute to the great development that the UAE is witnessing in general and Dubai in particular.
He said that the wise leadership directives always focus on making Dubai government employees happy, enacting laws and legislations and issuing regulations that enhance a positive work environment so that employees can perform their job duties according to the highest standards, and focus on innovation and creativity in their work.
He added that the activation of flexible working hours in government agencies in the emirate of Dubai came to ensure the safety of employees, especially in emergency weather conditions, in addition to reducing traffic congestion during the morning period or when leaving work, achieving job well-being, reducing work delays, and seeking permission for employees to go out. From work in order to accomplish some special interests and works.
The Dubai Government's Human Resources Department circular indicated the obligations that are required by all parties, as it stipulated the necessity for the human resources department in the government entity to amend the internal regulations related to attendance and departure hours in line with the generalization of flexible working hours, and to provide a mechanism for implementing the circular to achieve the desired goals, and coordinate with organizational units With regard to the implementation of flexible work hours, and the preparation and provision of periodic reports and data on the results of the implementation of flexible hours and submitted to the Department of Human Resources of Dubai Government.
With regard to the obligations of the line manager, the circular stipulated that he must coordinate with the employees of his organizational unit for the purposes of implementing and organizing flexible attendance hours, and ensuring that work continues in his organizational unit regularly during the implementation of the flexible attendance system, and not adversely affecting the service of dealers with the government agency.
As for the employee’s obligations in the government agency, the circular stipulated that the employee must adhere to the number of official working hours scheduled for him so that the number of these hours begins to be calculated from the time he actually appears to work. Shifts unless the government entity deems it possible to apply flexible working hours to them without prejudice to the proper functioning of it or affecting the provision of its services.
The Dubai Government Human Resources Department stated that for the purposes of evaluating the impact of flexible working hours, its impact on raising the productivity and happiness of Dubai government employees six months after its implementation will be evaluated through the employee happiness questionnaire launched by the Dubai Government Excellence Program.