Weber Shandwick MENA has once again been honoured by the Great Place to Work® Institute UAE, part of a global research, training and consultancy firm that recognises the best workplaces in over 50 countries worldwide.
The agency was ranked #7 among 15 shortlisted organisations for this year’s ‘Top Companies to Work for in the UAE’ listing, the second consecutive honour since the launch of the Middle East programme in 2010. Last year, Weber Shandwick MENA was ranked #9.
Commenting on the Top Companies list, Ron Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of Great Place to Work Gulf, said: “Congratulations to all 15 companies that made it onto our 2015 list. The standard of HR programs we evaluated this year is the best we’ve seen since we introduced the program five years ago. Those companies that retained or improved their position on the list need to be applauded as this was the toughest level of competition yet. The top 15 list makers truly understand the value of investing in their workplace cultures and the results show in both their business and people performance.”
To pick the ‘Top Companies to Work for in the UAE’, the Great Place to Work® Institutes conducts an evaluation of each participating company. Two-thirds of the company’s score is based on the results of the Institute’s Trust Index survey, which is sent to the employees from each company. The survey asks questions related to their attitudes about the management’s credibility, employee engagement and job satisfaction. The other third of the scoring is based on the company’s responses to the Institute’s Culture Audit, which includes detailed questions about pay and benefits programs and a series of open-ended questions about hiring, communication, and development.
Speaking after the ceremony, Andreas Keller, Managing Director – Dubai, Weber Shandwick MENA said: “We are delighted to have been selected as one of the Top 15 best companies to work for in the UAE for the second consecutive year. It’s always a great achievement when you can balance the management of a fast growing business while still providing your employees with a positive working environment. The management can set the blueprint for success, but it’s really down to the employees who create the environment and make the agency what is today.”
Ziad Hasbani, CEO, Weber Shandwick MENA said: “Too often, leadership is only associated with delivering on corporate objectives or financial results in the moment. However effective leadership is not about pushing people towards a certain single goal; it is about creating a destination that people want to follow you to. Leading by example is key to this. In order to engage people in that journey the leader must both create the vision and live it through consistent action and example. Only then will this create a culture that will permeate the organisation, shaping both the corporate reputation and its value to all those associated with it.”