UAE Telco e& Tests Four-Day Workweek With Fridays Off

In a pioneering move, e&, a leading technology company in the UAE, has embraced the global call for workplace flexibility by implementing a four-day workweek for employees across three departments. This initiative marks a significant step forward in redefining workplace policies and models, acknowledging the crucial link between employee engagement, well-being, productivity, and innovation.

Dena Almansoori, Group Chief Human Resources Officer at e&, expressed enthusiasm about piloting this initiative, emphasizing the company’s commitment to continuous innovation not only in products and services but also in modernizing workplace strategies. The aim is to create an efficient, productive, and fulfilling environment, challenging traditional norms through experimentation.

Employees choosing to participate in the pilot will enjoy a three-day weekend from Friday to Sunday. e& already operates a hybrid workplace, allowing remote work for employees on certain days, including ‘Green Fridays,’ where the team focuses on sustainability by reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Almansoori highlighted the company’s belief that prioritizing employee well-being lays the foundation for a more sustainable future. By reducing travel times and resource consumption, e& aligns with the UAE’s commitment to well-being and sustainability, concurrently supporting the company’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions in scope 1 and 2 by 2030.

The introduction of this pilot aligns with the UAE Federal Government’s recent encouragement of a four-day workweek for government employees. It draws inspiration from the success observed in Sharjah, where the adoption of a four-day workweek in 2022 resulted in a 90% increase in job performance, happiness, and mental health.