أسئلة وأجوبة
Can the employer ask employees to work from home of weekends without paying overtime?
We are engineers working for a company doing technical support for customers. They were asking us before to work on weekends on an on-call basis & we were given compensation even if there were calls or no calls.
For the last 4 or 5 years, the new manager removed the compensation if there were no calls on weekends despite us restricting our time at home or not going far or instead enjoying the weekends with personal or family matters.
The manager will only compensate us if there are service calls that are chargeable & no compensation if non-chargeable like warranty calls. Is this legal?
Dear Questioner,
The working hours shall not exceed 48 per week as per UAE Labour Laws.
Further, if you work overtime, you must be compensated for that. You can file a complaint against the employer in the labor court.
We can assist you in this regard. Please contact us on the phone for detailed discussion and assistance.
If your employer asks you to stay at home to wait for work calls and deal with them as they occur, this is considered work in itself, whether a call occurs or not.
He must compensate you for it in exchange for the fact that you are free for this work and cannot spend your entire vacation.
To obtain free legal advice that includes all the details, contact our office by email or WhatsApp/call, or leave your number and we will contact you immediately.
Dear Inquirer
We are pleased to serve you and address your inquiries.
This depends on the parties' agreements, terms and conditions.
If anything else is required, don’t hesitate to contact us via email or call our offices in Dubai or Sharjah.
Jasim Al Haddad Law Firm Legal Counsel and Consultations
From what you have shared with us, this is not a legal practice. We will be able to make sure you get paid according to your legal rights.
Contact us on WhatsApp so that we can understand your situation better and advise you specifically.
Should you wish to go for it, we would even be able to negotiate on your behalf.
Thank you for reaching out with your concern!
The situation you described regarding changes in compensation for on-call work during weekends raises important legal questions about employment rights and labor laws in Dubai.
Under UAE labor law, employers must adhere to specific guidelines regarding working hours, rest periods, and compensation, including for on-call work.
If the previous arrangement provided compensation for being on-call regardless of whether there were actual service calls, and this has been changed unilaterally, it could potentially be a violation of your rights as an employee, especially if the change was made without proper notice or agreement.
To fully understand the legality of your current situation and explore your options for addressing this issue, I recommend a detailed review of your employment contract and the specific circumstances of your case.
As your attorney, I can provide you with tailored advice and represent you in discussions with your employer to ensure your rights are protected.
Please reach out to me at your earliest convenience via WhatsApp or phone, or email me to discuss this matter further.
Dear questioner,
The general rule, with regards to payment and remuneration against any kind of work, is that once the worker prepares himself for work and offers his time to the employer, then the worker deserves compensation, regardless of whether any services were required from him or not as long as he provided the time and made himself ready to receive any orders and complete any services required in the time span set by the employer.
In light of the above-mentioned, we believe that the new rule introduced by your new manager is not compliant with the principles of labor law as stipulated in the laws applicable in the UAE.
For more information, please contact us on WhatsApp.
