Employee welfare comes first for these UAE companies

Dubai - Employee welfare comes first for most of the UAE entities but 10 companies have been named as the best place to work.
"For the companies and organisation we have recognised this year, employees come first - their wellbeing, productivity and happiness. In honouring their workplace wellness initiatives, we hope to encourage others to follow their lead and realise that achieving business success begins with taking care of a company's most important asset - its employees," said Dr Michael Bitzer, Chief Executive Officer of National Health Insurance Company - Daman.
Among the top 10 companies which grabbed the prize for employee welfare, Canon Middle East won Workplace of the Year award for its initiatives that noticeably changed the mind of its employees as well as their productivity and happy disposition.
The Daman Award for Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative was given to Ambulatory Healthcare Services - Seha for its pioneering Inta Gadha programme, the biggest health competition in Abu Dhabi. The project was aimed at providing creative and innovative solutions to fight the increasing rates of obesity in the UAE. The initiative targeted 30 government entities with the participation of more than 1200 individuals overseen by a team of 12 dieticians. By visiting government employees in their respective workplace, Inta Gadha enabled contestants to participate without having to take time off work and it provided non-Thiqa insurance card holders with free access to dietician services.
Among the success metrics achieved by the competition that impressed the judges are the 1,700 kilos dropped by participants during the duration of the programme. About 94% of competitors responding to the closing survey stated that the competition improved their lives, while around 91% said that they are either very satisfied or satisfied with the competition. Government entities participating in the competition expressed their satisfaction and gratitude and noted that the competition changed the working environment in their organization.
Majid Al Futtaim - Retail scooped the Daman Award for Corporate Health and Wellness Award for Organisation, while Dubai Islamic Bank won the Daman Award for Biggest Impact.
One of evening's biggest winners was the American Centre for Psychiatry and Neurology, which received double honours in the Communications Campaign of the Year and Corporate Wellness Partner of the Year categories.
Other winners include telecoms giant du, which received the Health & Safety Initiative of the Year award; as well as Mashreq, which won the CSR Employee Engagement of the Year trophy.
Meanwhile the Corporate Happiness Award for the Private Sector was given to Tristar Transport; while the Public Sector winner was the Department of Culture & Tourism Abu Dhabi, whose Lead for People Performance and Projects, Tanya Lush, was recognised as the Corporate Wellness Leader of the Year.
"In choosing this year's winners, we looked at how corporate and individual efforts are empowering employees through creative and high-impact programmes that boost employee well-being, knowing that a happy, inspired and well-developed workforce ultimately drive long-term competitiveness and business success," said John Emmerson, Events Director, Meed, organisers of Daman Corporate Health Awards.