Due to the heavy rainfall that hit the UAE earlier this week, the government issued guidance encouraging flexible work arrangements until weather conditions improved.
This smart policy aimed to balance work responsibilities with personal safety and well-being and also helped organisations prepare for potential weather-related disruptions.
However, when it comes to productivity, remote work has both benefits and challenges according to experts.
Dangers of remote working in the UAE
“Employers have afforded remote work to their employees to promote a better work-life balance. However, there is a growing concern among employers about a potential decline in productivity when employees opt for prolonged periods of working from home,” Trefor Murphy, the founder and CEO of one of the GCC’s leading recruitment agency, Cooper Fitch, told Arabian Business.
Factors behind this decline include lack of team presence, extended periods of isolation and the requirement of setting up home technology, Murphy said.
“Also, the boundary between home and workspace becomes blurred, leading to a transitional phase that often results in decreased productivity,” he added.
Echoing the sentiment, Justin Kent, the founder or recruitment and staffing agency Hawksby, said that both individuals and organisations can be affected by the long-term impacts of working from home.
“The danger of remote work is disconnection and isolation for the worker, this can lead to reduced productivity and more seriously to mental health issues. The upside is a healthy and distraction free employee who can produce some great work. The key lies in finding the right balance. That balance is unique to every team and individual and is not easy to find but with the right mindset and clear communications it can be found and should be continually reviewed,” he said.
According to a 2024 blog post by American payroll and compliance company Deel, two-thirds of workers say they are as productive or more productive working remotely compared to in an office, with 79 percent of managers feel their remote/hybrid teams are more productive.
However, the report suggests that only 12 percent of leaders have full confidence in their team’s productivity.
“As a leader you have to trust your team, as a team member you have to trust your leader. This can be achieved through clear communications and also talking about remote working when you’re all in the office. It’s also a learning process, you have to get used to each other’s work habits. Some people work late while others work early to achieve the best productivity we can, factors like these need to be taken into account,” Kent said.
So, what can employees do to boost productivity while working from home?
According to Kent, setting up a dedicated workspace, minimising home distractions, setting clear goals and deadlines and taking breaks work well in boosting productivity. Employees must also take the time to stay connected with colleagues and sign off clearly to the team and bosses.
This acts as “boundaries,” Kent said.
“Boundaries are needed and people shouldn’t be afraid to set them. It can be done at the beginning of the day by saying when you’ll be on lunch or when you’re going to the gym. There can be a pressure to be at your desk all day when working remotely, you want to prove to your boss or team that you’re working. Having boundaries and communicating these with your team is essential to make sure they stay in place. And you need exercise and fresh air to keep the productivity up… keep getting up from your desk.”
Best jobs for remote working in the UAE
Because humans naturally desire social interaction, extended periods of remote work can negatively impact collaboration with others, especially in tasks that require teamwork or peer interaction.
However, there are some jobs that are “best” for remote work productivity, according to Murphy.
“Roles in Technology, Programming, or tasks requiring high levels of concentration can benefit from no office interruptions. Similarly, positions involving extensive research tend to be more productive in a remote work setting,” he said, adding that technology and communication tools also affect productivity.
“Technologies that have allowed us to be presently connected such as video calling, mobile technology etc. enable staff to facilitate remote work. Without these tools, remote work would not be possible. Their availability is essential for remote work, they don’t increase or decrease productivity when the right technology is accessible to employees,” Murphy explained.
Remote working is a ‘valuable element’ to improve work-life balance
Murphy also explained that remote working is a “valuable element” of a modern work environment.
“It offers flexibility, improves work-life balance, reduces commute times, and enables individuals to concentrate on tasks requiring high focus. However, its success heavily relies on individuals, as accountability accompanies the responsibility of managing remote work effectively,” he said.
Having the option to work remotely one or two days a week can enable a balanced work and personal life, Murphy said.
For many employees, just one day working from home provides enough flexibility to handle things like errands, medical appointments or family responsibilities, without being fully remote which could lead to more domestic distractions impacting work.
Working remotely a day or two a week allows workers to benefit from flexibility while still maintaining focus and productivity for most of the week within an office environment.
“A balanced approach that incorporates a combination of remote work and predominantly office-based work boosts productivity. This arrangement offers autonomy and flexibility, providing benefits from both remote and in-office environments,” he concluded.
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