Dubai Pushes For Flexible Working Hours in Bad Weather
Flexible Working Hours in Bad Weather Could Become a Thing in Dubai
On foggy days, employees should be allowed to go to work at, say 10 a.m. instead of 7 a.m… at least that's what a member of the Federal National Council (FNC) is pushing for in Dubai.
Hamad Al Rahoum said in a council meeting earlier this week, thick fog that causes road fatalities can be averted if people went to work a little later, reports Gulf News. He wants to make flexible hours during bad weather a law, and we're praying it goes through!
Al Rahoumi said that, just like federal and local departments, private sector companies must also have flexible working hours during periods of bad weather. He also says that the decision to change working hours shouldn't be left up to managers, but instead, should be mandated by law.
While current labor laws specify the number of hours people can work, they do not decide when working hours start or end, the Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, Nasser Bin Thani Al Hameli, said. However, Al Rahoumi believes that if the private sector is given a little nudge from the government, they're more likely to make it happen. He suggested issuing a circular that supports flexible hours in foggy weather.
Since 2016, federal departments have a mobile application that allows them to notify their bosses if they are going to be late because of poor weather conditions, Khaleej Times reports.
We're keeping our fingers crossed. Not only because we'd love a lie-in in the morning, but also because no one wants to risk their lives on really foggy roads to be at work on time.