80% employees in UAE want to continue working from home, shows survey

Around 80 per cent of workers in the UAE want to continue working from home in the post-Covid-19 period because they can save time and money by avoiding a daily commute, according to a new survey by global staffing firm Robert Half.

Nearly half - 49 per cent - of the residents feel that they are more productive when they are working from home while 57 per cent say that they can save time and money by avoiding a daily commute.

Robert Half survey results showed that 70 per cent of employees in UAE want a staggered work schedule while 59 per cent want a revised office layout for their safety.

"The implications of these 'unprecedented times' for business owners and employees alike, however, are not only being felt now but will likely influence working practices and recruitment planning well into the future, given the strength of worker sentiment we're seeing expressed here," said Gareth El Mettouri, associate director for Robert Half.

Nearly 66 per cent people in the UAE feel their longer-term career prospects are unaffected by Covid-19, while 53 per cent remain concerned about losing their current job as a result of the pandemic in the short-term.

Analysts estimate that 200 million people will lose jobs worldwide while up to 4.5 million expat workers are expected to leave the Gulf region due to job losses in 2020.

The Robert Half survey results showed that 31 per cent of respondents are currently reassessing their work-life balance, 22 per cent are actively looking for a new role and 17 per cent want to switch jobs but find the pandemic's ongoing impacts are making them reticent.

El Mettouri said with many businesses re-opening their offices, the need for companies to evolve their flexible working policies and practices; reassess employees' core skills, competencies and behaviours in response to evolving business priorities; and foster a supportive and inclusive workplace culture in order to retain and attract the best talent has arguably never been more urgent.

No more handshakes

Nearly 62 per cent of UAE workers say they are not worried about working in close proximity to their colleagues, but they are also reassessing their personal space, post-Covid-19.

Nearly 67 per cent of people in the UAE say they will refrain from shaking hands and an even larger number - 74 per cent - will be scheduling fewer in-person meetings moving forward.

"While no-one knows precisely what the post-pandemic future will bring, the silver lining is that we're all discovering new ways of working together," said El Mettouri.

Around 75 per cent of survey respondents indicated they will be more prepared to support or cover for colleagues who need to be out of the office.

waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com