BACK TO WORK
PROTOCOL
DUBAI GOVERNMENT HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
May 2020
Introduction:
Rapid developments in the emerging COVID-19 pandemic crisis have introduced a radical shift in the busi-
ness practices across the globe particularly how governments function and offer services. Governments
and international organizations have asked citizens around the world to adopt social distancing as the nec-
essary protocol in the past few months after the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic besides implementing
a number of other work–related precautionary measures to restrict the spread of the disease. The world
of business was severely affected during this crisis, and therefore, all segments of society - including com-
panies, institutions, employers and governments must play a role in protecting employees, workers, their
families and the community as a whole. The newly acquired awareness level based on the COVID-19 pan-
demic experience has also reshaped the work culture by changing the ways of doing business. One exam-
ple of this is widely used innovative ways to bring employer and employees together through online work
environment. Therefore, job tasks are performed without having to come to the workplace. Precautionary
measures have achieved a sufficient reduction in COVID-19 infection rates, and various entities began to
allow a gradual resumption of work activities, gradually starting with actions deemed necessary to protect
health and the economy. However, regardless of how work activities are resumed, it is very likely that some
precautionary measures will remain in place for some time to avoid a sharp increase in infection rates. As
part of Dubai Government Human Resources Department’s efforts to develop proactive policies in govern-
ment agencies, the Department has prepared a Back-To-Work Protocol for government employees. This
protocol includes guidelines and precautionary measures in line with the best practices and international
standards to be followed when employees start resuming work.
This Protocol aims to:
1. Highlight the roles and responsibilities for those involved in implementing it.
2. Ensure mental wellbeing of employees through enhanced sense of security after returning to work in the
context of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
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Pre-Work (Home)
Ensure peace of mind:
• Be fully confident that government departments are ready to welcome back employees after taking all
necessary precautions to sterilize the place and office spaces.
• Promote a sense of security through self-education and replacing negative thoughts with positive ones
allowing to ease tension and resuming work effectively.
• Adopt reliable sources of information and avoid rumors.
• Follow instructions and guidelines issued by the relevant authorities and maintain a healthy daily rou-
tine such as getting enough hours of sleep and maintaining regular physical activity.
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Actions
1. Personal Measures Pre-Work (Home)
Department Employees
• Ensure all employees use Personal Protec- • Stay home and restrict your outdoor movement when experiencing any
tive Equipment (PPE) such as face masks and Flu like symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, body aches
hand disinfectants. and headaches.
• Inform your workplace if you have been in contact with a confirmed
COVID19 case and provide necessary medical documents.
• Wash hands frequently with water and soap for a period of no less than
20 seconds.
• Ensure covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing with
tissue or flexed elbow.
• Practice social distancing by keeping a distance of at least 2 meters
from other people.
• Wear face mask before leaving home and avoid shaking hands while
greeting others.
• Inform your supervisor/HR Department if you experience any infection
like symptom.
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Actions
2. Test & Isolate Pre-Work (Home)
Department Employees
• Dedicate a communication channel / phone number for em- • Visit the doctor and get the necessary treatment and
ployees to report the Flu or illness symptoms that they might DO NOT resume work unless you are given permis-
experience. sion/clearance.
3. Increase Awareness
• Use online channels to spread awareness and mental wellbeing • Complete and submit any online surveys or trainings
• Update information about the mechanism of work and new gov- and/or reading materials on safety measures as and
ernment directives. when requested.
• Develop online modules and trainings to ensure employees have • Follow the instructions/guidelines issued by the au-
acquired reasonable understanding of new guidelines and safety
procedures. thorities or any measures issued by the management
mission/clearance.
• Proactively survey employees to gather feedback on measures
being adopted and to inform about new workplace safety meas-
ures.
• Follow up on decisions and circulars issued by the authorities on
dealing with any new developments regarding the pandemic.
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Travel to & from work
Ensure peace of mind:
• Ensure that your car has all precautionary measures and personal protection equipment for any emergency
on the road. This will help you feel safe and enable you to avoid anxiety on the way to work.
• Keep calm when driving and avoid stress.
• Listen to radio channels to reduce stress levels keeping you calm while driving.
*This is also applicable with (Leaving work for home)
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Actions
1. Social distancing - (Space & Timing) Travel to
& from work
Department Employees
• Encourage the use of private transportation. • Use of mask is mandatory always use it, Social dis-
tancing is critical, whether you’re waiting for your com-
• Restrict seating in Department operated shuttles to ensure mute or seated in the vehicle.
social distancing.
• Provide disinfecting kits and PPE to shuttle drivers and dis- • While commuting in your own car or car-pooling with
others make sure you follow the instructions issued by
infect shuttle vehicle after each trip if possible.
the competent authorities.
• Check temeperatures of employees prior to boarding the • It is recommended to let the windows be open at least
shuttle to work and ensure that it is less than 37.5 degrees.
every 15 min.
• Implement a ‘Flexible Commuting’ policy for all employees to
avoid rush hours.
• Provide separate points of entry and exit to minimize physi-
cal contact between employees.
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Actions
2. Test & isolate Travel to
& from work
Department Employees
• Conduct temperature checks of employees before entering • Self evaluation of symptoms and inform the direct
the workplace and ensure it is less than 37.5 degrees. supervisor or the representative from the Human Re-
sources Department in their organization.
• Provide an isolation room for those infected or suspected of
having the virus.
• Communicate with the Health Authority in cases of any sus-
picion.
3. Increase Awareness
• Hang posters in the Department operated shuttles on in- • Read posters and follow instructions mentioned above
structions for preventing the speared of the virus. on methods of prevention and maintaining safety (use
of masks, social distancing and keep hand sanitizer).
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Actions
4. Leaving home for work Travel to
& from work
Department Employees
• Implement a ‘Flexible Commuting’ policy for all employ- • Self-evaluation of symptoms and inform the direct su-
ees to avoid rush hours and stagger entry and exit and pervisor or the representative from the Human Resources
ensure non-crowding. Department in their organization.
5. Leaving work for home
• Get your temperature checked before using the Depart-
ment transport.
• Disinfect shuttle vehicle after each trip if possible and
provide disinfecting kits and PPE.
• Maintain 2 meters distance between individuals lining up
for leaving work to ensure social distancing.
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At Workplace
Ensure peace of mind:
• Adhere to hygiene guidelines as maintaining hygiene has shown to enhance peace of mind and increase a
person’s confidence in dealing with the community in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Respecting feelings of others who have contracted the disease, they need sympathy and understanding; do
not hold them accountable for their suffering.
• Not to panic or spread rumors negatively affecting the work environment.
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Actions
1. Increase controls at entry points At Workplace
Department Employees
• Separate points of entry and exit to minimize physical contact be- • All employees are mandated to wear masks
tween employees if possible. at all the times in the building/office from en-
try, removal of mask is prohibited all the times.
• Prevent visitors and contractors who do not have permits and non-em-
ployees from entering unless obtaining an entry permit, checking body • Failure to comply will prevent entry to the
temperature and making sure that do not have flu to protect those who building / office.
come in contact with them.
• Maintain 2-meter distance between individu-
• Reduce the capacity of elevators by using floor signs inside and out- als lining up for entry and it is recommended to
side the elevator to ensure social distancing. use floor marking ensuring social distancing.
• Determine a central point in the workplace with means of sterilization
to receive parcels from delivery service companies and do not allow de-
livery company employees to enter the offices.
• Reduce reception of visitors from outside the entity as much as pos-
sible and preferably meet them through pre-determined appointments
to ensure social distancing compliance.
• Organize reception of customers in service centers, while maintaining
social distancing.
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Actions
2. Office sanitization At Workplace
Department Employees
• Clean all the common areas of the building/office premises including entrances routinely • Do not use anyone’s phone, desk area
and clean toilets after each use, at least once every hour. or work tools.
• Allow use of cafeteria and pantries by individuals for food and beverage ensuring social • Use hand sanitizers placed in the
distancing.
elevator after touching the buttons,
• Frequent cleaning of high-traffic areas / surfaces (e.g., lobbies, communal tables, cafete- and using common devices such as
rias, bathrooms, elevators, stairways). printers and the like.
• Clearly mark the surfaces that are frequently contacted by employees to raise caution level.
• All coffee stations should follow 2m social distancing guidelines avoiding queues, no • Make sure you discard used face
water dispensers allowed. masks in closed bins located for this
purpose.
• Provide single use and disposables water bottles for employees.
• Provide cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, and sanitation supplies for all employees.
• Installation of hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the building, disinfecting wipes should
be available in all meeting rooms and adjacent areas.
• implement a clean desk policy to support overall office health and safety with daily clean-
ing and disinfection after the work day.
• Common facilities such as prayer rooms will remain closed, until further notice.
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Actions
3. Provision of masks and hand sanitizers At Workplace
Department Employees
• Provide spare mask for employees and office assistants . • All employees must wear face masks all times once
• Masks should be provided to all the front line employees they enter into workplace.
on daily basis.
• Ensure protective clothing and PPE (including masks/face
coverings) are not shared among employees or visitors.
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Actions
4. Physical Distancing At Workplace
Department Employees
• Redo office seating to prohibit employees to sit directly in front • Maintain social distancing protocol at all time.
of each other without 2 meter distance in case of cubic seating
offices and open plan offices.
• All employees must wear face masks at all times at
workplace.
• No gatherings and events permitted.
• Continue holding videoconferencing and remote working
meetings.
• Rearrange seats in waiting areas and customer service centers
to ensure social distancing.
• Allow different lunch hours for each department/section to
avoide over crowded cafeteria / pantries at the same time.
• Set up partitions on dining tables (If applicable).
• Maintain the rules of social distancing in the cafeteria and eat-
ing places.
• Swap self-service lunch options like buffets for pre-packaged
and portioned meals.
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Actions
5. Physical distancing at work place At Workplace
Department Employees
• In the first stage to return to work, it is advisable that each • Comply with the instructions and conditions followed
entity distributes employees in two working shifts, first team by the authorities or the entity.
to work at office for 1 week and second team for the week af-
ter, alternatively.
• It is advisable to use flexible working hours to improve phys-
ical distance at work place.
6. Valet parking services
• Ensure that the precautionary measures are in place for va-
let parking for employees, customers and visitors during this
period.
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Actions
7. Communication At Workplace
Department Employees
• Clearly identify Single Point of Contact (SPOC) that em- • Adhere to the contact point designated by the entity to
ployees can approach if in distress or to report suspected report infected or suspicious cases.
cases. The number of the SPOC should be announced inter-
nally to all employees.
• Read and adhere to all published instructions and posters.
• Hang posters at entry points as part of broader informa-
tion and awareness campaign.
• Ensure that the contact information of all employees are
up-to-date.
• All safety guidelines must be communicated to employees
and visitors and should be placed in visible areas.
• Publish an updated Q&A list; issued by the authorities and
circulate it to employees.
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Actions
8. Dealing with infected and suspected cases At Workplace
Department Employees
• All infected and suspected cases of employees should • Make a note about contact person specified by the enti-
be granted a paid sick leave according to medical report. ty to inform in case of being infected or suspecting a case
• Isolation room to be provided for suspect cases. in the surroundings.
• In case any employee develops any symptoms while at • Report infected or suspected cases, whether from em-
work, they can be moved to the isolation room till medical ployees, customers or visitors.
support arrives.
• Provide an additional isolation room other than that
designated for employees, for infected or suspected cases
of visitors or customers and transfer them to it until the
medical support arrives.
• SPOC can contact the Dubai Health Authority hotline
800342 to report a COVID-19 suspected case.
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Actions
9. Implement strict travel policies At Workplace
Department Employees
• Prohibit non-essential travel. • Employees must report all travel trips they are taking or
• Follow the approved procedures for those coming from wish to take.
abroad.
• Disclosure of contacts with whom the employee resides in
the event of their return from abroad.
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General procedures for government departments to support
employee mental wellbeing during all stages:
• Promote pride among employees for returning to work and their valuable contribution for their entity
and Dubai Government
• Listen and understand to the needs of employees returning to work.
• Provide a counselling helpline for emotional assistance in case of stress symptoms affecting daily
activities or provide assistance to those who have been isolated.
• Increase daily communication between officials and employees through new technologies that are
appropriate to current circumstances or through social media, thereby enhancing the sense of security.
• Disseminate positive news that encourage employees to continue working normally.
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Authorities Concerned With Occupational Health & Safety
Directives
National Emergency Dubai Health Authority Ministry of Health and
Crisis And Disasters Prevention
Management Authority
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