RIYADH: The Saudi foreign ministry has condemned ‘in strongest terms’ the Israeli targeting of a UN school sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza, which resulted in the death of least 34 people including UN personnel.

Airstrikes hit the UN’s Al-Jawni Preparatory Boys School in central Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp, with the Israeli military claiming it was targeting Hamas militants planning attacks from inside the school.

#بيان | تعرب وزارة الخارجية عن إدانة واستنكار المملكة العربية السعودية بأشد العبارات استهداف قوات الاحتلال الإسرائيلية لمدرسة تؤوي نازحين فلسطينيين في قطاع غزة، مما أودى بحياة عدد من الأشخاص من بينهم موظفي وكالة غوث وتشغيل اللاجئين (الأونروا). pic.twitter.com/Gle4i8Nbqs

— وزارة الخارجية (@KSAMOFA) September 12, 2024

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s condemnation and denunciation in the strongest terms of the Israeli occupation forces’ targeting of a school housing displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the deaths of a number of people, including employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,” the foreign ministry said in a statement posted on X on Thursday.

The ministry also reiterated the Kingdom’s rejection of the continuation of Israel’s genocidal crimes in the Palestinian Territories and Gaza, as well as calls for an immediate ceasefire and the protection for civilians in the besieged territory.

MAKKAH: Lucidya, a Riyadh-based artificial intelligence and customer experience company, has become the first private entity in the Kingdom to implement a four-day working week.

The approach maintains full salaries and does not increase daily working hours. It aims to boost employee well-being, productivity and job satisfaction.

Abdullah Asiri, Lucidya’s CEO, told Arab News that the decision reflected the company’s commitment to fostering innovation and cultivating an exemplary workplace environment.

He said: “At Lucidya we have been embracing unconventional work methods since our inception in 2016.

“We were early adopters of remote working and eliminated traditional time-tracking systems. Our philosophy centers on achievement rather than hours logged. We believe productivity is not constrained by working hours but by individual achievements.”

The decision to transition to a four-day week has led to notable results, he added.

Asiri said: “We have noticed increased enthusiasm and task completion since implementing this system, with no decline in performance.

“We believe a flexible working environment fosters innovation and creativity. Our team deserves full trust and support to achieve even greater successes.”

Asiri stressed that the new work model would not affect client services, adding: “This shift will enhance our commitment to service standards and continuous support.”

The CEO revealed that the decision was facilitated by the company’s existing work culture.

“Our employees already demonstrate a high commitment to achievement, unrestricted by time or location,” he said.

He added that Lucidya’s automated productivity measurement system and focus on output-based performance created a conducive environment for the bold move.

Elaborating on Lucidya’s work philosophy, Asiri said: “We have moved beyond the need for physical presence in the office or adherence to fixed daily hours.

“What matters is the quality and quantity of work delivered, regardless of where it is done.”

Asiri looks to a workplace in which employees are self-aware, aligned with the company’s methodology, and possess a strong sense of belonging.

He said: “In such an environment, everyone becomes proactive, takes initiative, and goes the extra mile for organizational success.”

Asiri said that those who underperformed while working would do so regardless of hours or strict attendance monitoring. 

Lucidya, which employs about 150 people and operates in the AI, customer experience, and marketing technology sectors, serves major corporations and government entities across 11 countries.

Asiri shared insights on the company’s transition to a four-day working week and its initial impact, saying: “We began psychological preparation early.”

This transition, initiated in August, started with two departments, following careful observation of team stability and performance metrics.

The new schedule, which gives employees Thursday through to Saturday off, aims to provide extended weekends, especially benefiting those commuting from different cities.

Asiri said employee response had been overwhelmingly positive, and added: “Beyond the obvious elation, we have seen a surge in employee pride. They appreciate the company’s tangible efforts to create an exceptional work environment, not just empty promises.”

Addressing potential performance concerns, Asiri said that while it was too early for definitive conclusions, initial observations were promising.

He added: “We have seen no indicators of performance decline. In fact, we are noticing increased productivity in some employees.”

He attributed this to improved mental well-being, heightened morale, and employees’ appreciation of the trust placed in them.

Transparency remains a priority for Lucidya, and Asiri said: “We commit to publishing a comprehensive public report on this decision’s impact once we have sufficient data.

“When employees feel genuinely comfortable in their workplace, their dedication and output naturally increase.”