UAE jobs: employers focus on well-being and work-life balance in 2023

Hiring in the Emirates has made a strong recovery from the coronavirus-induced slowdown, boosted by the government’s fiscal and monetary measures

Companies in the UAE are focusing on communication and employee well-being in 2023. Getty

Companies in the UAE are introducing creative ways to connect with employees and continue to offer well-being initiatives for a healthy work-life balance, according to a survey by management consultancy Great Place to Work.

“Despite the challenges we have faced during the pandemic, we are proud to witness even more continuous advocation for work-life balance among leaders in the UAE and we are here to celebrate them,” Ibrahim Mougharbel, managing director for the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait at Great Place to Work Middle East, said on Monday.

The survey covered sectors such as retail, social services and government agencies, transportation, finance and media.

Companies in the UAE that fall within these industries and employ 10 or more workers are eligible to participate in the survey. They are assessed based on employee feedback and an audit of management and HR practices.

The top five UAE companies to work for in the large category include fast-food chain McDonald's, air-conditioning company Leminar Group, family conglomerate Al Dabbagh Group, fashion retailer Centrepoint and luxury retailer Chalhoub Group, the survey found.

The consultancy defined large companies as those with more than 500 employees.

The UAE jobs market has made a strong recovery from the coronavirus-induced slowdown, boosted by the government’s fiscal and monetary measures.

Flexible working — a legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic — remains a top priority for employees in 2023, with the most popular arrangement for workers being three days in the office and two days at home, recruitment specialist Michael Page said in its 2023 salary report.

“Learning to embrace a hybrid work model proves to be key in attracting and safeguarding employees,” Michael Page said.

In today’s knowledge economy, employees and jobseekers are also focused on acquiring new skills to succeed in their careers, with training, career development and private health care among the most wanted employment benefits, it said.

Meanwhile, Dubai-based furniture chain The One has been named the best UAE company to work for in the small to medium category, the Great Place to Work survey found.

Financial services provider Century Financial, Pizza Express, Shift Electronics and Accuracy round off the top five in this category.

“The organisations that made it to the list have proven that employee well-being does not need to be compromised in order to achieve growth,” the survey said.

“In fact, both go hand-in-hand. Maintaining employee well-being in a post-pandemic era is not plain sailing; hence, these organisations exerted tremendous efforts.”

In the government category, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority was ranked first as the best place to work.

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The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority followed in second place and the Sharjah Electricity Water and Gas Authority was ranked the third-best place to work.

The Sharjah government’s eGov department was ranked fourth, followed by the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority in fifth place.

“Leaders this year got even more creative in the ways with which they connect with their employees, thus continuously building up on a solid foundation of trust,” the survey said.

“With perpetual communication across all-levels of the organisation, employees felt resonated with and cared for.”

Top five best UAE workplaces in the large category in 2023

1. McDonald's by EFC

2. Leminar Group

3. Al Dabbagh Group

4. Centrepoint

5. Chalhoub Group

Top five best UAE workplaces in the small to medium category in 2023

1. The One

2. Century Financial

3. Pizza Express

4. Shift Electronics

5. Accuracy

Top five best UAE workplaces in the government category in 2023

1. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority

2. Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority

3. Sharjah Electricity Water and Gas Authority

4. Government of Sharjah — Department of eGov

5. Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority