Hybrid Working Model May Last For Long In UAE

With the Coronavirus outbreak, the entire world went into a lockdown that resulted in many jobs being carried out in the work-from-home model. Now, with such a high rate of Covid vaccination in the UAE, some companies have been considering reopening offices and bringing back the conventional way of working. However, even though it has been more than a year since the pandemic hit and cases have gone down considerably, almost 70% of companies in the UAE continue to have a hybrid working model.

Which sectors would adopt the hybrid working model?

Except for certain industries such as retail, healthcare, etc., HR industry executives and senior authorities from management consulting firms feel that several chief sectors in the UAE would adopt a remote work model. This includes industries such as finance, professional services, administration, and back offices, which they believe would normalize the hybrid working model in the country by mixing the remote and office working models. 

According to Mayank Patel, country head at Adecco Middle East, a global HR solutions firm, the advantage to this is that work would be versatile when it comes to time and space. For this reason, even without lockdowns, many companies have chosen the hybrid models as one of their basic working options. 

The main sectors that may move into a remote or hybrid model are the information sectors, finance, professional services and consultancies, education, back office, and administration support. However, professions that come under frontline, industrial, or healthcare sectors need the physical presence of the workers on the site. 

What will happen to salaries?

Vijay Gandhi, regional director for Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Korn Ferry, a global management consulting firm said that the pay would be the same for those working remotely. It is not the location or place that is important, but rather the productivity of the individual and the extent of collaborative effort. So far, no companies have decreased the rewards for their employees working from home.

Since the pandemic has restricted movement, the amount associated with the workers’ travel may have an impact. But generally, the allowances would remain unchanged as long as employees achieve the targeted goals of the company, its KPIs, and expectations.

 The recruitment agency Michael Page’s survey of those looking for a job has revealed that 41% of them, a significant chunk, don’t see a link between benefits, salaries, and remote work. 32% of the job seekers believed that remote employees should be given certain perks such as internet and electricity supplies. 27% of the respondents had a rather pessimistic perspective.

What do the employees want?

A study conducted by Adecco Middle East reveals that workers in the UAE prefer the hybrid model because of the flexibility it provides. Three out of four respondents wanted greater flexibility, so they wanted a combination of remote and office-based working.

Not only is this economically more viable, by saving traveling costs, it also enables them to have greater work-life balance. However, workers do not want to shift to a fully online mode either, because that could cut them off from their social interaction, thereby harming their mental health. So, the actual workplace also needs to be made use of after the pandemic comes to an end.

According to Vijay Gandhi, employees would enjoy the hybrid form the most because it gives them the best of both worlds. They can work from home and then come to the physical office as per convenience or on rotation. According to the Michael Page survey, 80% of people were convinced they could complete their tasks from home.