Sacked for skipping work

People miss work for a variety of reasons, many of which are legitimate and others less so. While employers expect workers will miss a certain number of workdays each year, it becomes a problem when absenteeism becomes a habitual absence from work. Excessive absences can equate to decreased productivity and can have a major effect on a workplace’s finances, morale and other factors. Sometimes absenteeism can be sorted out but sometimes more drastic action needs to be taken. Which is just what the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, did when he sacked nine members of Dubai Municipality’s executive management the day after he conducted a surprise inspection visit and found no one sitting behind his desk. Sheikh Mohammed began his visit at 7:30 am, something he is known to do from time to time. On Sunday, the UAE government posted online a video of him making an unannounced visit to a government office but finding it empty. As a result of the surprise inspection, the very next day nine high-powered officials were retired. Sheikh Mohammed thanked the nine for their service but said he wanted to allow a new generation of young leaders to take control and provide top-quality services to the public, the Emirates News Agency reported. He also ordered a shake-up of the city’s management. The sparsely populated offices that Sheikh Mohammed, who is also the UAE prime minister and vice president, was inspecting were that of the Land Department and Department of Economic Development. The spot check was conducted on a normal working day and time. The employees who were absent held, among other positions, that of director of legal affairs, deputy director general and assistant director general for corporate support. The exercise was intended to “send a message”, said the director-general of Dubai’s government media office. The message apparently was that a heavy price will be paid by people who do not show up for work, no matter who they are or what they do. The nine were not rank-and-file employees but high in rank which should make them role models for their employees to follow. Their positions made their tardiness all the more damning and Sheikh Mohammed’s decision all the more significant. According to Gulf News, Sheikh Mohammed is known for his early-morning inspections “to ensure government services are up to Dubai’s globally admired standards”, so his presence should not have come as a complete surprise to those caught out. Another inspection at Dubai’s airport found immigration officers “present and correct”, Al-Arabiya TV reported. Absenteeism costs governments and companies billions of dollars each year in lost productivity. It is widely prevalent in governments in the region where employees enjoy lifetime job security. But also in the region, this is not the time to skip work. Low oil prices are pressuring state finances, which makes it even more important that officials make bureaucracy more efficient. Absenteeism is an especially difficult problem to tackle because there are both legitimate and poor excuses for missing work. It can be challenging for employers to effectively monitor, control and reduce absenteeism. Occasional absences from work are inevitable – people get sick, have to take care of others, or need time during business hours to handle personal business. It is habitual absences that are most challenging to employers, and that can have the greatest negative effect on co-workers. Not going to work, arriving late, leaving early and taking longer breaks than allowed are all considered forms of absenteeism and can affect productivity and workplace morale. Employees who are not committed to their jobs should find work elsewhere. Employees should be working hard, not hardly working.