The UAE's workforce was largely transient in the past. Expatriates earned good salaries, remitted significant savings back home and chose to retire in their native countries. However, recent times have witnessed a sea change as the UAE takes steps to encourage long-term residency. Residents are now staying longer and putting down roots here.
This has not only resulted in the country's workforce having a long-term approach and becoming multigenerational, it has also seen them demanding more personalised benefits, a recent report by Marsh and Mercer says.
Professionals are seeking perks such as flexible retirement options, pension support and insurance coverage for cancer screening and alternative medicine, among others. Some even want their employers to cover travel expenses related to treatment abroad, as well as mental well-being support.
Meanwhile, the rising cost of living in the UAE is also weighing on employees. Many feel their compensation has not kept pace with increasing expenses, particularly in housing and education, a separate study by consulting firm Korn Ferry found.
Are you satisfied with the workplace benefits offered by your employer? Drop us an email to pf@thenationalnews.com.
Half of employees in the UAE said compressed working weeks would be helpful. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The shift in the UAE’s workforce to being more long-term, settled and multigenerational is leading to changes in employee expectations around workplace flexibility and long-term support, a report by professional services firm Marsh and global consultancy Mercer has found.
The workforce now consists of four generations in one company, especially in academia, Adel Alderi, senior consultant at Mercer Marsh Benefits, told The National. "You have Gen Z coming in, millennials and Gen X, and you still have some baby boomers, especially in executive positions," he said.
"The multigenerational demographic change has led to the emergence of two major trends. On one hand, there is growing demand for flexible benefits that take into consideration the individual needs of these different demographics. On the other, you have a growing need for long-term care."
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples. Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts. Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
