Latest news with #SebastienBedu
Zawya
24-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
UAE Workforce Risks in 2025: Cybercrime and Workforce stress and Burnout take center stage
Dubai — International SOS, the global leader in health and security risk management, has released its highly anticipated Risk Outlook 2025 Report on ' Navigating a Fragmenting World'. The report highlights the evolving global risk landscape and thereby the critical need for organisations in the UAE and globally to enhance resilience in the wake of unprecedented cross-border, environmental, and security challenges. The Risk Outlook 2025 Report1 underscores the volatility witnessed globally that is reshaping business operations and workforce safety across the world. The study, based on expert analysis and insights from over 800 senior risk decision-makers across 96 countries, including the UAE, identifies three key amplifiers of global instability and its potential impact locally: Geopolitical Conflicts & Internal Fragmentation – Tensions in the Middle East, Russia-Ukraine, and broader economic and political shifts are leading to a more multipolar and unpredictable global environment influencing local business operations. Climate Change & Health Risks – Extreme weather, resource scarcity, and the resurgence of infectious diseases pose growing risks to businesses and employees in the Middle East region and beyond. Misinformation & Digital Threats – The rapid spread of misinformation, combined with evolving AI risks, is creating new security vulnerabilities for organisations. Top Risks Seniority Split Additionally, 69% of the senior risk professionals who are also primary decision makers surveyed, expect geopolitical events to significantly impact their operations in 2025, while 65% of risk leaders cite political stress and social unrest as major concerns compelling organisations in the UAE to adopt smarter and more unified approaches to protect their operations and ensure business growth. The global report reveals that 78 per cent of respondents who are on the decision making team with significant influence consider cyber attacks and online crimes, as well as work stress and burnout tops the list of risks perceived within the workforce. 75% reported to be impacted by the growing cost of living followed by mental health concerns noted at 70 per cent - requiring businesses in the UAE to reassess how they safeguard workforce wellbeing. According to Sebastien Bedu, General Manager Middle East, International SOS, 'As we enter 2025, organisations in the region must prioritise Resilience and Duty of Care by moving from reactive to proactive risk management approach. The ability to anticipate, prepare for, and mitigate risks - whether geopolitical, health-related, or digital-is now a business imperative. Our mission is to provide organisations in the UAE amongst others with real-time intelligence, expert analysis, and on-the-ground support to help them navigate this increasingly complex landscape.' To address these escalating risks, a data-driven approach by International SOS is paving the way for global and local risk management by understanding and tackling the destabilising effect of external forces on business operations and employees. The Risk Outlook 2025 report introduces an advanced risk intelligence platform that integrates AI-driven analytics with expert-led risk assessments. This new technology aims to enhance situational awareness, improve crisis response times, and streamline business continuity planning specially for multinational organisations based in the UAE. About the International SOS Group of Companies; 40 years of saving lives The International SOS Group of Companies is in the business of saving lives and protecting your global workforce from health and security threats. Wherever you are, we deliver customised health, security risk management and wellbeing solutions to fuel your growth and productivity. In the event of extreme weather, an epidemic or a security incident, we provide an immediate response providing peace of mind. Our innovative technology and medical and security expertise focus on prevention, offering real-time, actionable insights and on-the-ground quality delivery. We help protect your people, and your organisation's reputation, as well as support your compliance reporting needs. By partnering with us, organisations can fulfil their Duty of Care responsibilities, while empowering business resilience, continuity, and sustainability. Founded in 1985, the International SOS Group has been saving lives for 40 years. Headquartered in London & Singapore, it is trusted by over 9,000 organisations. This includes the majority of the Fortune Global 500 as well as mid-size enterprises, governments, educational institutions, and NGOs. Nearly 12,000 multi-cultural security, medical, logistics and digital experts stand with you to provide support & assistance from over 1,200 locations in 90 countries, 24/7, 365 days. Between them, International SOS employees speak nearly 100 languages and dialects in our Assistance Centres, clinics, and offices.
Khaleej Times
18-02-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
What risks stress UAE employees, companies in 2025? Cybercrimes, cost of living among top three
Cybercrimes and online attacks; work stress and burnout; cost of living and mental health topped the perceived risks for companies and employees in the UAE and other parts of the world for 2025 rather than geopolitical tensions, a survey by a global health and security risks service company has revealed. According to International SOS, 78 per cent of their respondents said cyber attacks and online crimes, as well as work stress and burnout topped the list. Another major concern –at 75 per cent – is the impact of the growing cost of living, followed by mental health concerns at 70 per cent. Geopolitical tension came last at 69 per cent. The question asked was: 'How likely do you think the issues (above) will have a significant impact on your business and/or your people in the next 12 months? Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. The survey was conducted by London and Singapore-based International SOS among its global contacts and clients in the last quarter of 2024. The results were presented during the Middle East|Risk Outlook 2025 held in Dubai on Tuesday. The objectives were to plot how geopolitics, security challenges, and health risks converge; as well as to inform organisations on how to 'adopt smarter and more unified approaches to protect their workforce and operations.' Why perceptions differ Going into further details of the survey, Sebastien Bedu, General Manager, Middle East, International SOS, told Khaleej Times: 'One of the interesting elements when we analysed the data was that the perceptions of the perceived risk as well as the elements of concern were different between various seniority levels'. He noted among primary company decision-makers, political and social unrest, and protests are seen by 75 per cent as very or fairly likely to have a significant impact on their businesses and/or their people in the next 12 months. 74 per cent of C-suite officials also noted geopolitical tensions are very or fairly likely to affect them; while 73 per cent of them noted transport risks as another main disruption. Cyberattacks and online crime were perceived as very or fairly likely to affect them by those on the decision-making team with significant influence; those on the decision-making team without significant influence (meaning middle-level managers) ranked work stress and burnout the highest concern at 80 per cent. Bedu explained: 'For the top management, the bigger picture matters, such as the geopolitical tensions. But as you come down the ladder – at the managerial and working level – concerns shift on more personal matters. This indicates that the level of concern is more local – those pertaining to their well-being, unlike the leaders who have a broader scope to take care of and have a vision towards the future that is different.' No one-size-fits-all solution Bedu said: 'The survey results highly indicate that that there is a one-size-fits-all solution for every organisation. Therefore, it is important for them to focus on the areas that matter to their structure and organisation, like for example, addressing the wellbeing of the employees. Regarding the UAE and geopolitical tensions, Bedu said political tensions in the region was deemed as the least concern not because people in the country live a bubble. 'I want to think the main reason is the UAE first and foremost is giving us the opportunity to live in such a safe and pleasant environment,' Bedu said, adding: 'We live in a country where we feel safe and protected and this is why concerns are different than other countries.' 'But there are other concerns similar to most countries in the world – like the high cost of living, and geopolitics also affect the country as everything is connected,' he noted. A ray of hope With regards to the current ceasefire in Gaza, Bedu said 'everything is still fluid but the ceasefire itself provides a ray of hope.' 'Our security experts are obviously analysing the situation on continuous basis. We obviously welcome the recent development with regard to ceasefire, the return of hostages and prisoner exchange in Gaza,' he added. 'These are positive signs – although the situation remains pretty fragile. But, it is still a situation that is better than last year. What we can do is to monitor it very carefully. We have information and analysis from our network and boots on the ground to make sure that we can anticipate what the next situation would be for the benefit of our clients, so they can be more prepared,' continued Bedu, noting the relative calm and lull in intense fighting can be used by their clients to prepare, evaluate and plan their crisis management and business contingency.
