Reopening responsibly: What was it like for Dubai government employees to get back to work

Top Stories

Reopening responsibly, coronavirus, covid19, Dubai government employees, get back, work

A government sector employee and UAE national Reem Hamdy Ahmed Mohammed Ghazaly expressed her joy on finally returning to her office.

By Nandini Sircar

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Sun 31 May 2020, 5:00 PM

Last updated: Mon 1 Jun 2020, 8:45 AM

It was a dusty and hazy start to the week as thousands of Dubai government workers returned to their offices on Sunday - several private sector businesses also followed suit.
Visibility was down to 3 km as strong winds kicked up dust storm in parts of the city when several made their way to work after a span of over two months.
Dubai Economy had earlier stated that 50 per cent of employees - including the private sector - can be in an office at any time, up from 30 per cent previously.
This is part of the UAE's wider plans to responsibly return to normalcy in its combat on Covid-19.
Employees are glad to be back
Speaking to office goers today, a government sector employee and UAE national Reem Hamdy Ahmed Mohammed Ghazaly expressed her joy on finally returning to her office, after such a long span.
The citizen who works at the Department of Finance in the Ruler's Court said, "I have been missing my office and my colleagues. It's a different experience to actually come to work as opposed to home offices. This feels like we are getting started again. Employers are ensuring a Covid-secure workplace and I have no apprehensions at all."
She adds, "there are some changes obviously as we adjust to the new normal. This includes temperature checks, cafes in our office is shut. We are being provided with masks every 3 hours so that we can dispose of our damp masks and replace it with new ones. The chairs in front of me have been removed. We are also receiving regular emails from the office to follow hygiene protocols and all the other guidelines. But I am so glad that we have resumed after all, and everyone is extremely cautious."
Everyone feels caution is a collective responsibility
Acknowledging the fact that collective responsibility is the way forward, UAE citizen Sara Ali Essa Almuhassen who returned to work today in the her office at the Legal Affairs Department in DHA said, "It felt so good to be getting out of the house and driving to work again. There was no traffic on the roads this morning, but I guess in the coming weeks the traffic situation could change as more and more people start coming in."
She adds, "I have mixed feelings today. I am happy to return as it feels like a start somewhere. All offices are following strict following safety protocols. But people may have certain apprehensions lurking in their minds that'll hopefully fade away soon. We are adapting to the new changes at work and everybody is eager to cooperate."
Self-service replaces traditional services in the new normal
Echoing similar sentiments, Ismail Meladi, Senior Media officer at Dubai Municipality said while wearing masks for long hours at work can get strenuous, but all measures are ultimately in the interest of every individual.
He says, "adjusting to the new normal also entails doing everything yourself. So this morning we pulled our own trolleys and kept our laptops while they were getting sterilized inside. In the pantry self-service is replacing traditional services. There is no extra staff anywhere. A desk of 6 people now only has 3 persons sitting, to maintain adequate distance. Thermal cameras for temperature checks are installed. Increased sterilization and disinfection and all safety gears are visible everywhere."
Commenting on the one big difference that he feels, Ismail says, "with work from home, employees had to be available all the time, but now with offices opening up, the discipline is coming back to our lives. So while the work load remains unchanged, there is a specific in and out time."
People are programmed to handle any hurdles
Trying to gauge the return to work roadmap for private sector employees, majority of them said companies are reinforcing a strong people-centric culture as employees navigate new hurdles.
Samir H who is a Senior Key Account Manager at Eurofragance, FZ LLC averred after being at home for so long, he was yearning to return to his workplace.
He said, "it's surely a pleasant change. Everyone is taking all necessary precautions now that we have started venturing out. It is somewhere programmed in the head as to what should be done and what should not be done. There are stickers all over the office in common areas, reminding us about social distancing. Sanitizers have been fixed at entry and exit points. Elevators should not have more than 2 people at a time. At lunch hour not more than 3 people are occupying the pantry. So these are new changes that we are adapting to."
Latha Soman, a customer service executive at Seair Global Logistics, LLC opines she is trying her best to feel confident about the situation as many things are still shrouded in caution.
She says, "we have been working from home for the past couple of months so it will take some time again to readjust to working from office. While it's great to meet your colleagues again and have that person-to-person interaction but the changes are evident in the surroundings. For instance, I am having my lunch at my desk now instead of using the office pantry. All safety measures are very reassuring but to get that confidence fully back may take a while."
nandini@khaleejtimes.com 


More news from