I was very impressed when the UAE government led the world with the introduction of the 4.5-day work week for government sector employees effective 1 January 2022. Last week, the Saudi Minister of Human Resources, Ahmed Al-Rajhi, announced that the kingdom is currently considering reducing the work week to 4 days!
Unfortunately, based on a recent survey conducted by Aon, only a small percentage of private sector firms (21 percent) are following the government’s lead, while the vast majority (71 percent) are not. Eight percent are still reviewing their policy.
After the 4.5-day work week was announced, one of the first questions we received from clients was, “If we go to 4.5 days how to we maintain productivity?” A small number of firms are reducing pay, while others are adding an extra hour to each day of the remaining work week.
Debate around shortening work weeks
I think both are an easy out. If we’ve learned anything from the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s that employees want an improved work-life balance. What’s more, several studies have shown a shorter work week improves productivity.
Businesses that ignore the government’s recommendation for a shorter work week may also be disenfranchising workers who choose to worship on Friday, as well as employees with school-aged children. Most schools shifted to the 4.5-day week following the government’s announcement. Interestingly, just as studies have shown high productivity with a shorter week, other research has supported improved learning with a shorter school week.
There is another challenge in the debate around shortening work weeks: a lack of consistency in policies across the GCC markets. I am hearing from companies with staff or clients in other GCC markets. These individuals are still having to work Sundays and Fridays – so they are working a 6-day work week!
In these cases, some firms are either giving people the Friday off or time in lieu. Neither is a great answer, especially for employees with children and for overall work-life balance. There is no easy answer here, other than perhaps having employees with families work Monday to Friday and people without Sunday to Thursday.
I believe companies should embrace the leadership shown by the UAE and KSA governments and rethink how to improve their employees’ overall work-life balance. This is going to be an important part of the employee value proposition going forward. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions.
Ray Everett is Senior Partner, Human Capital Solutions at Aon.
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