Latest news with #HanaAbuKharmeh
Zawya
25-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Serco awarded a Global Leading Employers award as a top 1% employer
Serco, the international provider of critical government services, has won a Global Leading Employers award and been recognised as belonging to the top 1% of international employers. Leading Employers is the world's most comprehensive study on employer quality. Compiled by the Institute of Research & Data Aggregation, based in Germany, the study draws on a broad spectrum of sources, feedback and criteria to develop a holistic assessment of employers, across categories including recruiting performance, employee experience, work-life balance, compensation and benefits, culture and values, and prosperity and leadership. Under the leadership of CEO Phil Malem, Serco in the Middle East has undergone a transformative journey repositioning itself as a strategic partner to local governments. The launch of +impact, Serco's advisory business in 2023, redefined government consulting in the region, combining strategic insight with on-the-ground delivery. Here in the region, the company has also exceeded its Emiratisation targets by 657% and increased the number of female nationals in its workforce by 133%, with gender parity now achieved at leadership level. Serco Middle East's 2024 gender pay gap review also reflects a 0.94% pay gap in favour of its female colleagues – a testament to its commitment to equity, inclusion, and rewarding talent based on performance and potential. These milestones reflect Serco's deep commitment to national development, inclusion and sustainability, further underscored by the integration of Climatize and ExperienceLab into its growing advisory business. Today, with over 4,500 employees supporting vital services, Serco is aligned with regional visions such as Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the UAE Centennial Plan, championing citizen-first service delivery across the Middle East Chief Operating Officer for Serco Middle East, Hana Abu Kharmeh, said: 'Being recognised among the top 1% of employers globally is a powerful endorsement of the culture we've built at Serco in the Middle East. Our focus on inclusion, national talent development and employee wellbeing has created an environment where people feel empowered to grow and contribute meaningfully to the communities we serve. This award is a tribute to our incredible teams across the region who live our values every day.' About Serco Serco brings together the right people, the right technology and the right partners to create innovative solutions that make positive impact and address some of the most urgent and complex challenges facing the modern world. With a primary focus on serving governments globally, Serco's services are powered by more than 50,000 people working across defence, space, migration, justice, healthcare, mobility and customer services. Serco's core capabilities include service design and advisory, resourcing, complex programme management, systems integration, case management, engineering, and asset & facilities management. Underpinned by Serco's unique operating model, Serco drives innovation and supports customers from service discovery through to delivery.
Khaleej Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Some firms allow working from abroad for up to a year; eligible roles revealed
Some UAE companies allow their employees to work for a certain period from abroad in order to retain the best talent and as part of remote work policies. In the post-pandemic period, companies have become more flexible when it comes to remote work, especially for certain roles in technology and consultancy sectors. In March, the UAE government allowed remote work systems for government entities outside the country, which would open up access to global talent without additional costs. Hana Abu Kharmeh, chief operating officer of Serco Middle East, said they offer global mobility opportunities that enable employees to work remotely from abroad, provided business needs are met and relevant tax and legal obligations are addressed. 'We've supported remote international working across a variety of roles and departments. This includes client-facing positions, such as advisory — where clients have agreed to the arrangement — as well as internal functions like HR and growth. These flexible models have allowed us to retain top talent, offer diverse career development pathways, and respond effectively to evolving workforce expectations,' she added. 'While there is no one-size-fits-all policy, the duration is typically agreed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the role, performance, operational requirements, and compliance considerations. Some arrangements have been formalised for six to 12 months at a time, with the option to extend where appropriate,' Hana added. Serco Middle East's COO noted that the purpose is to create 'a high-performance culture that supports both individual aspirations and operational excellence.' While speaking during a panel discussion at an event recently, Nasser AlBlooshi, managing director for UAE at Chalhoub Group, said the company allows staff to work four weeks every year from abroad if employees can sustain regular work hours. Mahesh Shahdadpuri, CEO of Tasc Outsourcing, said working from home became a huge possibility because of Covid-19 and technology and certain companies in the UAE allow employees to work from abroad. 'Going forward, individual companies have their own policies. We have seen in the US certain companies asking people to come back to work. Here in the UAE, certain firms do it differently. The essence is what your workforce wants, where are you in the evolution of your company, your objectives are clear, your culture is great, then it doesn't matter where people work from,' Shahdadpuri said. Hana added that the services sector such as advisory and consulting often lend themselves to remote arrangements due to their project-based nature. 'Similarly, technology and digital roles — including software development, data analytics, and IT services — typically allow for effective remote contribution. Corporate functions like HR, marketing, finance, and strategy also tend to support such flexibility, as do creative fields such as content development and design,' added Hana.
