ABU DHABI // Employers are providing various perks such as on-site gyms, games, free food, time off to volunteer for charity and working from home, workers say.
Cindy Black works for Chep, a materials handling provider to the fast-moving consumer goods industry. The company, based in Jumeirah Lake Towers, offers many non-monetary incentives to motivate its staff.
“My company ticks many boxes. We get four months’ maternity leave, flexible hours and there is always healthy fruit available in our kitchen for all staff,” said Ms Black. “There is table tennis in the kitchen for when staff need a little break from their desks.
“We have an annual achiever programme, where staff get an all-expenses-paid holiday for two, and we have various health and safety programmes.”
Ms Black said her company paid for smoking-cessation courses to help employees who wanted to quit puffing.
“We have yoga sessions on our office balcony in the cooler months, as well as three paid days a year to participate in any community volunteering,” she said. “It is a great place to work.”
Abu Dhabi resident Ela Jayne said employees at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi were given free, unlimited coffee and access to an on-site gym. “My employer also hosts several iftars during Ramadan, a Christmas party every year on an island and we celebrate special occasions like getting cake or biscuits or a meal voucher on International Women’s Day, Mother’s Day and National Day,” she said.
“We also all get gifts when we start employment and then we all got mugs and had a huge party to celebrate one year of being open.
“We also get the Entertainer App, and can avail ourselves of Mubadala discounts at many shops and restaurants by showing our ID badge. I love it here.”
Prafulla Uchil, who lives in the capital, also enjoys work benefits.
“I get flexible hours and work from home once a week,” she said. “My husband doesn’t get the regular weekend off but my company was really sweet to allow me to take a Saturday and Sunday off instead of the standard Friday and Saturday, so that we get a day off together.
“Best of all is that the office annual party is in Istanbul every summer – all expenses paid.”
Al Ghadeer resident Josette Tabalocm used to handle compliance at a call-centre outsourcing company. “One thing I can share that is effective is team building,” he said. “We were all in one villa and we had food, fun and games at least once every three months.
“In that way, staff get to know each other and build relationships and work harder as a team.”
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