While winter holidays send many expatriates home to spend time with their families, some employees are looking forward to a staycation – enjoying perfect weather and festive events across the UAE. It is also the time of the year when employees are most likely to reflect on their careers and contemplate leaving their jobs.
In the final months of the year, most teams are holding down two jobs; pushing hard to close out day-to-day activities and projects, as well as planning and getting things in place for the year ahead. These are among the key drivers of end-of-year burnout.
So while the holiday season often means that employees spend more time with their family and friends, it will inevitably spark discussion about and comparison of career progress and next steps.
At this time of the year, employees will reflect and make decisions about whether they will stay at their current job or look for a new one, especially as they consider their accomplishments across the previous year and set New Year’s resolutions.
New research from CEB, the consultancy for which I work, shows that today, 70 per cent of employees are dissatisfied with future career opportunities offered by their current employers, a fact that leaders can ill afford to ignore during the holiday season.
Our findings also show that upward promotions are not always possible in companies today, so employers need to reframe careers based on professional growth and building skills that will make them more employable in future. Creating growth-based career opportunities for employees can decrease turnover by up to 33 per cent, saving an organisation with 10,000 employees upwards of Dh27 million per year.
With this knowledge, leaders need to think carefully about their end-of-year messages to teams. As such, they need to cover more than just the company metrics and celebrating at the staff party. Leaders should give a high-level view of what’s to come in the year ahead, top priorities and most importantly the opportunities for the workforce. They should encourage staff to think about the different experiences and skills they want to gain and what they want to achieve at work.
Before leaders close out the year for the holidays, they should address the following five areas to prevent mass exits in the new year:
• Recognise and commend the hard work that people have contributed during the year, and specifically call out the success and progress of cross-company projects and roles that individuals played. These messages should be personalised wherever possible.
• Acknowledge the sacrifices and trade-offs that staff have made in their personal lives throughout the year.
• Encourage employees to rest during the holidays and refuel for the year ahead. Consider end-of-the-year rewards that reinforce this to ensure that staff get some much-needed time of. If employees do need to work, bosses should get involved too, and ensure that the spirit of the holidays is incorporated into the working day.
• Share the strategic vision for the business to engage and excite the team. Explain what this means for the team, their role in driving this forward, along with a high-level view of projects and priorities.
• Set up one-to-one meetings with each direct report. Use this session to explain how they contribute to the business strategy and get a sense of the employee's broader career aspirations and what they want to achieve next year. This is the first step to forming a strong "career partnership" that will create reciprocal value for the employee and organisation.
Mohamed Farid is managing director of the human resources consultancy CEB in the Middle East.
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The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Funchal via Lisbon, with a connecting flight with Air Portugal. Economy class returns cost from Dh3,845 return including taxes.
The trip
The WalkMe app can be downloaded from the usual sources. If you don’t fancy doing the trip yourself, then Explore offers an eight-day levada trails tour from Dh3,050, not including flights.
The hotel
There isn’t another hotel anywhere in Madeira that matches the history and luxury of the Belmond Reid's Palace in Funchal. Doubles from Dh1,400 per night including taxes.
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Women%E2%80%99s%20T20%20World%20Cup%20Qualifier
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Grand slam winners since July 2003
Who has won major titles since Wimbledon 2003 when Roger Federer won his first grand slam
Roger Federer 19 (8 Wimbledon, 5 Australian Open, 5 US Open, 1 French Open)
Rafael Nadal 16 (10 French Open, 3 US Open, 2 Wimbledon, 1 Australian Open)
Novak Djokovic 12 (6 Australian Open, 3 Wimbledon, 2 US Open, 1 French Open)
Andy Murray 3 (2 Wimbledon, 1 US Open)
Stan Wawrinka 3 (1 Australian Open, 1 French Open, 1 US Open)
Andy Roddick 1 (1 US Open)
Gaston Gaudio 1 (1 French Open)
Marat Safin 1 (1 Australian Open)
Juan Martin del Potro 1 (1 US Open)
Marin Cilic 1 (1 US Open)
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHigh%20fever%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIntense%20pain%20behind%20your%20eyes%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESevere%20headache%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ENausea%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EVomiting%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESwollen%20glands%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERash%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIf%20symptoms%20occur%2C%20they%20usually%20last%20for%20two-seven%20days%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Calendar 2018/19
July 29: OTA Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan
Sep 22-23: LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, US
Nov 16-18: Carioca Arena Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Feb 7-9: Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Mar 9-10: Copper Box Arena in London, UK
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
- Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20Profile
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