MBR Establishment for SME Development ranked as happiest workplace

UAE - Happiest workplaces in the region have been revealed and honoured at the third edition of Happiness @ Work Award virtual ceremony. The winners included government and private sector organisations that have taken steps to increase the happiness quotient of its workforce.

Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development (Dubai SME) has emerged as the happiest workplace in the public sector. The same honour in the private sector went to Paramount Computer Systems; and Xworks Interiors won the title in Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector category, which is new this year.

Sustainable Mindz, a Dubai-headquartered expert center for sustainability and corporate responsibility strategies in the Gulf and MENA region, instituted the Happiness @ Work award programme, aimed at promoting happiness and positivity in the region's workplaces.

Vineetha Mathew, founding partner of Sustainable Mindz, said: "The current situation has put the spotlight on the importance of engagement and wellbeing in the workplace and how it serves to anchor employees and organisation in the time of crisis. The Happiness @ Work Award aims to recognise organisations that are game changers, the forward-thinking ones that strive to do things differently and put their workforce at the heart of its operations. It aims to highlight leading examples of organisations actively looking at creating a workplace culture that nurtures, engages employees and reinforces their role in a sustainable future."

"The year 2020 has been of unprecedented change. The Covid-19 situation led to a rapid transformation in the workplace with most businesses quickly transitioning to working remotely. Employees working remotely has presented a unique set of challenges for most organisations. Organisations that have always focused on employee engagement and happiness in the workplace continued coming up with innovative ways to keep the employees engaged and motivated," she added.

Dr. Mansoor Anwar, Head of Sustainability & Wellbeing, du - UAE, and a member of the jury panel, said: "With Happiness @ Work award we are sending a strong message to the nation that it's a need rather than a want. Since Aristotle we seek for both physical and mental prosperity. With this award we are creating the platform for everyone to showcase their efforts in this noble mission. I'm delighted to be among the panel of judges. The happiness at work award is an ideal platform to showcase the employer's commitment towards the most important asset: the employee. Don't miss the opportunity to add this prestigious award to your badges of honor. It's a golden opportunity to benchmark against others and anchor happiness further. We encourage all to participate."

Some of the organisations are part of the third addition of the Happiness @Work Award are: Fujairah Municipality, Department of Economic Development of Ras Al-Khaimah, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, Fujairah Natural Resources Corporation, Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development (Dubai SME), Emirates Logistics, Zain Bahrain, Omantel, Paramount Computer Systems, Aafaq Islamic Finance, TIME Hotels and Xworks Interiors LLC won the Happiness @ Work Award in the Best Employee Engagement category.

Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Sharjah City Municipality, Aafaq Islamic Finance and Xworks Interiors LLC took top honours in the Best Workplace Wellness Program category.

The Happiness @ Work Award in the Best Work-Life Balance Program category was won by Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.

Ministry of Interior Bahrain- Team of Happiness - Human Resources, Tristar Group, and Precision Plastic Products Co. LLC won the award in the Best Workers Welfare Program category.

While Fujairah Municipality, Summertown Interiors and Dubai SME were declared winners in Best Workplace Sustainability Program category.

The award jury received a total of 62 nominations for the different categories for the 2019 Happiness @ Work Award. Based on multiple parameters, an independent panel of jury evaluated organizations in five different categories and 19 organisations were shortlisted.

Established in July 2017, the Happiness @ Work Award is the only award of its kind in the region and the world. The awards recognize and honor forward thinking organisations from public, private and not for profit sectors that believe that happy Employees Create High Performing Organisations

The jury members include Dr. Saamdu Chetri, Visiting Faculty at IIT Kharagpur, Department of Humanities and Social Science, Rekhi Centre for Science of Happiness, Dr. Yasmin Al Bulushi, Project Head, Eitmad Oman, Dr. Mansoor Anwar, Head of Sustainability & Wellbeing, du - UAE and Ms. Jane Fiona Cumming, Director and Co-Founder, Article 13 - UK.