Dubai Chamber Sustainability Network Task Force on Employee’s Welfare and Wellbeing organized a webinar with the objective to understand the different successful strategies, practices and measures companies have adopted to engage employees towards maintaining health, wellness and safety during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The online seminar titled, “Health, Wellness and Safety for Employees in the Midst of Covid-19 outbreak,” was a platform for the member companies of the task force to share and learn what companies are doing to safeguard the health and safety of their employee, how they are trying to reduce and overcome the physical and mental health impacts of the current crises by addressing their emotional and financial well-being.

The presenters, which included, Mahdi Mohamad, Chief Operating Officer, Support Services, Dulsco, Jihan El Saghir, Country Head HR, HP Inc Middle East & Saudi Arabia, and Manisha Mishra, Deputy General Manager, Transworld Group, spoke about the most impactful practices for employees, stressed on the importance of strong leadership to protect their well-being and to reassure them that they will overcome this challenge.

According to them, it is essential for the organizational head to maintain open and regular communication with the staff and to empathize with their concerns, especially those that are on the frontline and taking care of essential services.

The critical role that the Human Resources (HR) department can play to keep the morale of the staff high through positive messages was also mentioned.

The speakers made suggestions to hold virtual coffee chats, providing flexible working hours, conducting surveys on strategy and policies towards common organisation goals, and engaging with experts such as ergonomists, psychologists, nutritionist to provide guidance.

Companies can also create awareness through videos, audio instructions in various languages on how to maintain hygiene, the potential risks, preventive measures and reporting methods for suspected cases.

Another important aspect that was highlighted was to provide financial advice to employees to help them reduce financial stress, consider saving plans, to deal with such kind of situations now and in the future.

Dr. Belaid Ratab, Chief Economist, Senior Director – Economic Research & Sustainable Business Development Sector, Dubai Chamber, pointed out the importance of this webinar in enhancing companies awareness of the need to invest in the health and safety of their employees amid the current challenges, stressing that the recommendations in the workshop represent an integrated guide that can be used to enhance health and safety for all employees.

Rattab stressed the important role that the Dubai Chamber’s Sustainability Network plays in discussing topical issues, such as how to help employees overcome the changes happening around them.  The Network is an essential part of the efforts made by Dubai Chamber to support the private sector in adopting the best plans and strategies.

Established by the Chamber’s Centre for Responsible Business (CRB), the Dubai Chamber Sustainability Network serves as the focal point for the business community to share and exchange best practices in implementing CSR and sharing sustainable best practices.

The network provides an opportunity for local companies to interact, learn, share experiences and build on CSR leadership, along with coming up with sustainable solutions for private sector concerns. Its membership has grown to 64 with 17 new companies joining and the establishment of eight task forces in 2019.

The Centre for Responsible Business was established by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2004 to support and promote corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability.

The Centre’s objective is to engage the Dubai business community in assuming greater responsibility for the emirate’s social and environmental needs. The Centre encourages Dubai Chamber members to implement responsible business practices that contribute to enhancing the performance of their organizations and their competitive capabilities.