AMB reduces working week and productivity increases by 17%

As the leading supplier of pre-fabricated steel and timber frame buildings in the Middle East, AMB works with clients including Fluor, Siemens, Schlumberger and Nakheel.

Such is the demand for construction in the Middle East that working long hours has become the industry norm, however is this approach the best for both employers and employees from a health & safety and productivity perspective?

AMB, which is actively involved in the Build Safe Dubai project and was one of the signatory groups at the official launch in October, has decided to challenge the hot topic of long working hours. The company conducted research amongst its 2,700 staff; listening to them and asking which hours they would like to work, within reason.

AMB is one of 20 major UAE construction companies involved in the Build Safe Dubai initiative, which aims to share knowledge on safety issues including developing multi lingual videos of health and safety induction presentations.

Steve McConnachie, general manager of AMB, comments: "As a result of our research we now operate a rota system where employees work a five-and-a-half-day week as opposed to a six-day week. We found that working the same hours for a five-day week, every other week, gave a 17% increase in output."

He added: "It is important that we continue to deliver excellent results for our clients and also look after our hard-working team. By ensuring that our staff have time off means that they are working to their full potential and, in our experience, this helps with continuing to improve health & safety, as well as staff retention and boosting morale."