More businesses in the UAE have switched to a four-day
workweek because they think that a five-day workweek and a nine-to-five
schedule are antiquated ideas from the 1950s that caused employee demotivation,
failure, and finally burnout.
Companies are switching to a hybrid model and enabling their
employees to work from home in addition to the traditional four-day work week.
It's about time the concept of work-life balance moved
beyond being a tagline on a company brochure. The idea of a 5-day workweek and
a 9–5 schedule dates back to the 1950s, before we had the technology that makes
communication so simple.
According to Ruwaida Abela, founder and managing director of
JRN Consultancy, a luxury hospitality and lifestyle consultancy that
specializes in PR, communications, and crisis management, there is no longer a
need to continue doing what we've been doing.
"Nowadays, there is no need to keep doing what we've
been doing. "There is a wide variety of interactive platforms and
software, as well as the ability to instantly message and communicate with
people around the world," she says.
The four-day workweek that JRN Consultancy offers runs from
Monday through Thursday. On Thursdays, employees work from home.
The employees are likewise subject to a 3-day weekend policy
at Pop Communications and Active DMC. In addition, a few businesses, mainly in
the communications industry, have policies in place requiring employees to work
four and a half days each week.
Abela observed that the staff's productivity has increased
significantly due to the shortened workweek.
"Stress is prevalent today, and employers must take
into account their employees' mental health." According to the speaker,
people need to "reset" and realize that they work to live, not live
to work, and that taking time to enjoy life will make them happy.
According to research, Abela said, individuals perform at
their best when they have control over their schedules.
The co-founder of POP Communications, Sarah Curtis, claims
that the company has a "No Pressure Fridays" policy where employees
can take time off or have time to focus on a specific task, which has increased
production and efficiency because of the flexible approach.
Due to the client-servicing character of the organization,
she claimed that this approach might be difficult at times. "The desire
for a Friday off while still fulfilling obligations may lead to longer hours on
other days." The alternatives we provide are customizable and tailored to
each team member.
According to Curtis, the team has accepted the adjustment
quite well, and it has helped them improve their time-management abilities.
It was previously said by Sawsan Ghanem, managing partner
for digital, marketing, and communications at Active DMC, that a reduced
workweek does directly affect productivity and improve work-life balance.
POP Communications has an interesting hybrid work strategy
in place where workers mostly work from home.
Curtis said, "We meet as a team at least once a week to
synchronize, but in general, our staff works from home and schedules their time
to accommodate operational needs."
The founder of JRN Consultancy, Abela, is adamant that
extended workdays and hours are ineffective and just encourage staff to pile on
and stretch out their workloads because there is no incentive or reward for
completing tasks more quickly.
The finest personnel will go where they feel valued,
respected, and cared for. Therefore, employers shouldn't wait; they should take
action right now by implementing adjustments to the 9-to-5 framework. She
continued: "They will want to work for businesses that enhance their
quality of life."
The four-day workweek policy will not be changed, according
to Abela, who thinks "this is the future."
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