Page 77 - DGHR PR REPORT - NOVEMBER 2024

11/13/24, 9:24 AM Flexible working should no longer be 'optional extra' for companies in Dubai, experts say | The National

Mounting evidence

"All the evidence and research is showing that hybrid working has many benefits and

should be considered anyway for health, well-being and performance," said Natasha

Hatherall-Shawe, chief executive of Dubai marketing company TishTash, whose company

offers staff a four and half day working week, with three days in the office.

"Most companies I know are already offering some flexible working and I’d go as far as to

say it’s becoming a must have for most, rather than a nice to have. For us, this is business

as usual now, and we expect it to remain the case and evolve as we need to over time. I

don’t see us changing it or reducing any aspect as I feel we have the blend right."

It was only last week that Dubai was named as the best city in the Middle East and North
Africa, as well as the fifth best globally, in the Brand Finance Global City Index. Part of

the criteria were the remote working options offered by cities.

Mita Srinivasan, founder of Market Buzz International consultancy, said she hoped the

survey showing the positive impact of remote working on Dubai traffic would make those

companies reluctant to adopt flexible work practices think twice.

"The survey by [the] RTA highlights benefits like reduced traffic and better work-life

balance," she said. "I hope many companies will take note, especially in an ever-evolving

work culture like Dubai’s. It’s a smart move for any business looking to modernise how

they operate.

"As a PR team, we can work from anywhere as long as we have a laptop, internet and a

mobile phone. For us, it was about balancing costs, managing resources efficiently and

giving the team the freedom to work from home instead of dealing with daily commuter

traffic. I felt that a flexible work model would allow everyone to focus on their tasks

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