Dubai government employees to have flexible working hours from August 16

Dubai government employees will be able to avail of flexible working hours starting from August 16.

The decision was announced by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department via a circular issued to all government departments on Saturday, August 8, local media have reported.

Accordingly, employees may start working between 6.30am-8.30am, provided that they complete the number of official working hours as determined by the government entity that they work for.

There is an exception made to the rule for the flexible working hours arrangement. This rule does not apply to certain employees including those whose job requires continuous communication with the public as well as those working in shifts – unless that specific entity decides to apply flexible hours without affecting its services.

Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, director-general of the DGHR, said the decision was taken to boost the happiness of government staff and ensure their safety, especially during emergency weather conditions, to reduce traffic congestion during the morning or when leaving work, achieving job well-being and reducing attendance delays.

While reiterating the obligations that all stakeholders must adhere to, the circular added that the human resources of each department must amend attendance systems and departure hours according to the new circular.

As of June 14, 100 per cent of all Dubai government employees returned to their workplace following several months during which a work-from-home protocol was issued to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

Read: All Dubai government employees to begin working out of offices from June 14