How the UAE is rethinking the work-life balance
The working week can often seem like a permanent feature of modern life. Hundreds of millions of people construct their daily commute, their childcare arrangements and their social lives around the basic idea of five days on, two days off. Yet the history of employment shows that this convention is anything but fixed. It was only with the advent of the Industrial Revolution that working hours…
The working week, a seemingly permanent aspect of modern life, is not fixed. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, agricultural societies worked according to seasons and celebrated leisure during religious festivals. Industrialist Henry Ford popularized the five-day model in the US, a system adopted by the UAE in the 1920s. Today, the UAE stands out in its approach to work-life balance.
A study by Zayed University found that 70.9% of employees felt more motivated and 73.6% reported better work-life balance with a four-and-a-half-day week. However, 37% of the surveyed employees found their days more stressful due to the same amount of work in fewer hours. This indicates that a shorter week does not guarantee a better one.
The UAE's success hinges on organizations redesigning work, not merely reducing hours. The country's visa system and incentives for Emiratis also contribute to retaining talent. Artificial intelligence is further transforming employment, automating tasks and raising new questions about skills and jobs. The UAE's emphasis on family life and social cohesion alongside economic growth suggests that technology can free people to focus on higher-value work and lead fulfilling lives outside of work.
The UAE's willingness to experiment with established assumptions positions it well to create a flexible work environment that balances productivity and happiness.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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