Revealed: Best employers in the Middle East

Global professional services firm Aon has revealed its 2018 edition of its annual ‘Best Employers Middle East’ study.

The study ranks the companies based on employee engagement, organisational agility, engaging leadership and talent focus.

Aon assessed participating organisations against its regional database of more than 350 organisations and 275,000 employees.

Those on the list were found to have better employee engagement, 3.5 times lower attrition rates and ranked higher than the general market for their focus on retaining talent for the future, a statement said. They were also found to have 50 per cent higher total shareholder return than the market average.

The study also found that with increasing digitisation, an “agile, innovative culture and the ability to adapt quickly” will have an effect on long-term organisational survival.

Organisations are also understanding the importance of a productive and engaged workforce in creating competitive advantage for the future, the report stated.

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Christopher Page, CEO, Talent, Rewards and Performance, Aon Middle East and Africa, said: “Stronger employee engagement provides the opportunity to significantly contribute towards the digital transformation of organisations.

“Through increased visibility, organisations can implement a continuous feedback loop that will allow them to establish continued dialogue with their employees and futureproof their business against impending talent deficits. The research proves that organisations with a more engaged, agile culture outperform others across business-critical areas including profit, talent retention and sales growth.”

The Aon Best Employers in the Middle East for 2018 (listed alphabetically) include –

DHL Express

InterContinental Hotels Group

Jumeirah Group

Marriott International

McDonald’s

Novartis Pharma

Sodexo Benefits & Rewards Services

Turkish Airlines

Union Coop

Khalid Youssef, associate partner and Employee Engagement Practice lead, Aon Middle East and Africa, said: “Our research shows that happier, more engaged employees create competitive advantage in the long-term, and it is promising to see businesses becoming more aware of this correlation.”

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