Staff retention 'key for Gulf companies'

HAPPY WORKERS: Staff retention is seen as key for companies in the Middle East. (Getty Images)

More needs to be done by companies to retain their best staff as the global financial crisis throws down extra challenges, according to new research.

The first regionally-focused research paper by Manpower Middle East, part of the largest employment services provider in the GCC, has identified the level of staff turnover as a major concern.

The regional Green Paper discusses the growing need for companies to implement robust retention plans for staff and offers a variety of strategies to improve retention levels.

Varina Nissen, managing director, Manpower Middle East, said: “The Middle East region is steadily increasing the size and depth of its talent pool which is excellent news for companies looking to expand and hire new staff, but the challenge to keep them in the organisation is also growing.

"Staff turnover is a genuine concern for employers and effective retention is all about ensuring that you provide the right environment and opportunities in order to retain the talent you have."

Flexible remuneration and benefits policies, learning and development opportunities for high performers, improved working conditions and ‘talent management’ – providing clear career paths and job profiling for employees – are some of the suggested methods to assist employers with retention levels.

“Increased compensation levels alone are not sufficient to increase retention,” said Nissen, referring to the Gulf region's tax-free salaries.

The discussion paper highlights the need for employers to focus on staff engagement as a tool to retention, with recent studies showing that 85 percent of engaged employees remain with their current employer.

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READERS' COMMENTS

STAFF RETENTION
Posted by Amon, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Wednesday 26 November 2008 at 21:58 UAE time


It is an interesting subject at these special times of the current economic crises where it did hit the Dubai real estate sector faster than most thought.
There are big lay offs of employees (many unreported) from major real estate companies, that many people would dream to work for.
You will never think such companies are short sighted or they just do not care of there human employees. When those companies want to expand, they start hiring from all over left and right and then when they face their first crises they tell there employees get lost in order save few millions. Such treatment from major companies here in Dubai for professional people as they are disposal able items will definitely backfire on these companies in the long run and for sure it will never be back the same.

Staff Retention
Posted by Chunga, Dubai on Wednesday 26 November 2008 at 12:56 UAE time


Call the paper any colour you like, this is nothing new and nothing just for the Gulf.

Back in 1993 The Economist alluded that in the workplace of the future, the fiercest competition may not be for customers, but for the hearts and minds of employees.

The days are gone when employees were looking for good bosses and long term employment relationships. In their endeavor to raise cash, prospective employees are looking for customers; and they favor the ones paying the highest price in relation to their perceived total personal value.

The TRAPPED Rats
Posted by Chunga, Dubai on Wednesday 26 November 2008 at 12:51 UAE time


The Holy Books of both Christians and Muslims talk clearly about greed and gambling, how to manage money and support the poor, so no matter how we disguise and which way we argue, most of us know what is right and we all have to live with the decisions we made.

STAFF RETENTION
Posted by Mike, Dubai, UAE on Monday 24 November 2008 at 14:47 UAE time


There is nothing new or refreshing at all about about what Varina has said. This is exactly what other companies, far more experienced in this region than newly arrived Manpower have been saying for years. Simply regurgitating others ideas does not move this issue forwards. Clear actions and initiatives by employers have already begun in the more enlightened multi national sector, which needs to perolate to the rest of the busiuness community. Get off the bandwagon Manpower and do some thinking of your own.

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