Last Updated on: 17th July 2023, 12:47 am
Saudi Arabia Joins The UAE in Introducing A 3-Day Weekend
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MoHRSD) is studying the possibility of introducing a 3-day weekend in the employment sector, according to reports from the Saudi newspaper Al Madina.
This is expected to generate considerable interest from both the public and private sectors, with many anticipating the positive benefits of work-life balance.
While no official announcement has been made, this decision will be in line with global trends toward flexible working.
The 4-Day Work Week in The UAE
Sharjah has already introduced a 4-day workweek that has had a positive impact on workers’ performance.
According to the Sharjah Executive Council, reducing work days increased employee productivity by 88%, attendance by 74%, job satisfaction by 90%, and mental health by 87%.
These results demonstrate the success of this initiative in improving various aspects of employees’ work-life balance. This system is currently only implemented in public institutions and is planned to be introduced in the UAE in the future.
The rosters stipulate that public sector employees will work about 90 minutes longer than before from Monday to Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Trial Of The UK 4-Day Workweek
A full pilot study of a 4-day work week was recently carried out in the UK. 92% of participating employers, or 56 out of 61, opted to continue with the policy.
Conducted by Autonomy, a UK research organization, the study was the largest of its kind in the world and included more than 2,900 workers across a range of industries.
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