Bayt.com & YouGov survey found nearly 6 in 10 respondents claim remote work option is an important aspect in their workplace
A new survey conducted by Bayt.com, a Middle East’s job site, and YouGov, a market research agency, titled Ideal Workplace in the MENA, revealed that a whopping 74 per cent of UAE professionals say that their potential workplace should promote the use of advanced technology.
The survey reveals that perceptions of an ideal workplace are evolving quickly, with nearly 6 in 10 respondents (59 per cent) claim remote work option is an important aspect in their workplace.
What Matters Most to UAE Professionals
In addition to seeking advanced technology, a challenging work environment is highly desired among respondents in the UAE. In fact, 82 per cent of respondents feel having challenging work is an important factor. Furthermore, 81 per cent of professionals believe that transparent communication is an important factor in any work environment.
Other elements that were considered important in a workplace include work-life balance (82 per cent say it is important), fair evaluation (77 per cent say it is important), and innovation and creativity (81 per cent say it is important).
Besides attractiveness, retention is an element that many organizations strive to master. When asked about factors that mostly drive loyalty, opportunities for long-term career advancement (35 per cent) and training and development opportunities (34 per cent) emerged as key drivers of loyalty besides salary.
Ola Haddad, Director of Human Resources at Bayt.com said: “What professionals really want from their workplace is a great experience. Today’s workplace is an ecosystem, and the best workplace experiences are built on variety, choice, and autonomy. In our latest survey, we investigate the modern workplace and identify factors and design strategies that optimize effectiveness, experience, and performance.”
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Business Values and Culture
In addition to workplace attraction and retention elements, respondents were asked about company culture and its impact when choosing a workplace. More than half (54 per cent) of the respondents said that company culture is a determining factor when joining a company.
UAE professionals look at a variety of elements relating to companies’ missions and impact on societies. When asked about business values that make a company more attractive, 50 per cent cited good ethics and practices, 41 per cent said friendly company culture, 26 per cent said corporate social responsibility, and 17 per cent said green consciousness/ efforts.
Underlining the role of technology, 44 per cent of respondents claim it is easy to access information about company culture and the environment when applying for a job. Online company pages targeting job seekers (30 per cent), social media (22 per cent), and word of mouth (17 per cent) are perceived as the best ways to promote company culture among job seekers.
To understand this issue further, respondents were asked about the most useful company information, to which 52 per cent of UAE respondents said company benefits and perks, 38% said employee testimonials and reviews, 24 per cent said awards and milestones, 19% said company events and socials, and 16 per cent said photos and videos of the workplace.
Physical Attributes
Not only do values and cultural elements matter to professionals, but physical elements also have a significant role as well. In the UAE, there seems to be a higher preference for larger companies, as 58 per cent of respondents feel that the ideal company size has more than 50 employees.
In terms of office layout, closed rooms (24 per cent), followed by workstations (18 per cent), open plan (17 per cent), and cubicles (12 per cent) are the most preferred office layout plan.
Talking about interior design, 51 per cent of respondents feel a workplace should have an attractive design/layout. In fact, 52 per cent of employees claim the interior design of their office reflects their company’s brand and values, while 41% of respondents feel they were allowed to personalize their workspace.
Zafar Shah, Research Director, Data Services at YouGov said: “There is a direct link between a happy, engaged workforce and a successful business. Our latest survey identifies the biggest factors that employees deem are crucial to an ideal workplace. We explore the playing field that companies and reporting employees engage on, to help identify the ways in which companies can attract strong talent.”
