UAE federal employees gain flexible work options under school policy

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The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) has issued a special circular to all federal ministries and entities in the UAE regarding the “Back to School” policy. The initiative allows parents working in the federal government to accompany their children to schools and nurseries at the start of the new academic year.

The circular aims “to support federal government employees by providing sufficient flexibility in the work environment in line with applicable directives and legislation, without affecting the workflow and provision of services, in accordance with the systems followed in each federal entity, and with the approval of the direct manager.”

Under the policy, federal employee parents with school-going children may take their children to and from school through a morning late leave or early dismissal on the first school day, for a maximum of three hours, either combined or divided into two periods.

Read: Back to school: RTA guidelines for bus drivers, transport operators

Parents of children in nurseries and kindergartens may also benefit from a morning late arrival or early departure during the first school week to accompany their children, for up to three hours per day. The timing accounts for differences in school start dates according to the curriculum specified by the competent authorities.

The policy additionally allows flexible working hours for other occasions during the academic year, provided this does not disrupt workflow or conflict with the Federal Government Human Resources Law and its executive regulations. “An employee may be granted permission for a period not exceeding three hours to attend parent-teacher meetings in his children’s schools, and he may also be granted permission for a period not exceeding three hours to attend graduation ceremonies, events and activities for his children.”