Following COVID-19 outbreak and lockdowns, there have been various updates about the introduction of online working and businesses that didn’t already have a process in place had to adapt quickly.
Companies are having to deal with countless changes in the way they do business. Some present challenges but others offer new opportunities to work smarter.
The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) issued Ministerial Resolution No.279 of 2020 (Resolution), containing guidance to support UAE employers with measures they can take in response to the COVID-19. Key areas include working from home, paid leave, unpaid leave, temporary/permanent reduction in salary, redundancies, and hiring new employees.
These measures allow employers to implement immediate changes to survive the crisis, as well as offering more flexibility for the future. We expect further updates to employee contracts in regard to part-time work, which would open up previously untapped talent pools, such as stay-at-home parents.
A clear framework is needed to make part-time employment feasible for both the employer and employee, but a change in attitudes has the potential to increase productivity and improve customer service, while reducing fixed costs, such as transportation allowances and large office overheads.
