Latest news with #humanResources
Al Bawaba
2 days ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Ooredoo Kuwait Wins "Most Inspiring Workplace" Award in MENA for 2025
In a new achievement added to its rich record in human resources, the 2025 "Inspiring Workplaces Awards" announced the selection of Ooredoo Kuwait among the top five most inspiring workplaces in the Middle East and North Africa recognition acknowledges its deep commitment to establishing a corporate culture centered around the employee as a fundamental element in every development and innovation recognition is the culmination of a long journey of efforts made by Ooredoo Kuwait in building a distinguished work environment based on empowering individuals, fostering a sense of belonging, and solidifying a culture of creativity, making it a role model in investing in human capital."Every advancement starts with individuals."In his speech during the virtual ceremony held to announce the awards, Omar Al-Bassam, Chief Human Resources and Administration Services Officer at Ooredoo Kuwait, expressed his pride in this achievement, stating: "On behalf of Ooredoo Kuwait, I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to the management of the Inspiring Workplaces Awards for this esteemed recognition. It is a great honor to be classified among the elite institutions that place the human element at the heart of their strategies and priorities.""At Ooredoo, we believe that every true development begins with individuals. Our employees are not just a part of the company; they are its essence and spirit. They are our most valuable asset, and their passion, talent, and commitment are the primary drivers behind every achievement we make, and this is our true investment in the company."Al-Bassam added: "This recognition reflects our steadfast commitment to being an employee-centric organization that listens to their opinions, supports them, and provides them with the tools and opportunities that enable them to succeed and progress. We strive daily to be the first choice for our employees, just as they are our top priority."He concluded: "Once again, we thank Inspiring Workplaces for this inspiring recognition, which reinforces our determination to continue building a stimulating work environment where every individual feels their true worth and contributes effectively to the journey of development and growth."A Corporate Culture Built on Well-being and EmpowermentOoredoo Kuwait's selection among the top five inspiring workplaces in the region is due to several pivotal factors, foremost among them its commitment to creating a work environment that supports well-being, happiness, and participation, considering that a positive culture leads to stronger and more sustainable institutional this context, Al-Bassam emphasized that the team is "the core of everything we do," adding that Ooredoo works to build a culture where every employee feels valued and belongs, which directly reflects on the quality of services provided to customers and on the company's image as an attractive Happiness Is Not an Initiative... But a CultureOmar Al-Bassam also added that "employee happiness and well-being are not just incidental initiatives, but an integral part of the company's corporate culture." He explained that investing in the personal and professional well-being of employees has a multiplied effect on the institution's overall performance, and also contributes to solidifying the company's position as one of the leading digital service providers in Kuwait and the Achievements in Human ResourcesThis recognition from Inspiring Workplaces comes just a few months after Ooredoo Kuwait won the "Best Human Resources in the Telecom Sector in Asia for 2025" award at the Asian Telecom Awards, reflecting the company's upward trajectory in empowering individuals and developing the work are the Inspiring Workplaces Awards?The Inspiring Workplaces Awards are among the most prominent global awards specialized in honoring institutions that make a real difference in the lives of their employees, celebrating positive work culture, influential leadership, and empowerment and well-being awards cover multiple regions around the world, including Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America, and are granted based on a meticulous evaluation of institutional policies and practices, by an independent judging panel that includes global experts in human resources and corporate a More Inspiring Work EnvironmentOoredoo Kuwait believes that employees are the foundation of every achievement and continuously strives to develop an integrated system of programs and initiatives that enhance their loyalty and happiness, starting from training and development, all the way to recognition and psychological and social support. In this context, the company intends to launch a number of new initiatives during 2025, including advanced transformative leadership programs, platforms to enhance internal interaction and communication, in addition to innovative health and well-being initiatives.
Asharq Al-Awsat
18-05-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
How Artificial Intelligence Is Reshaping Saudi Arabia's Labor Market
Artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies are increasingly becoming the cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's future labor market as the Kingdom undergoes rapid digital transformation. While automation is boosting efficiency and productivity, it also underscores the urgent need to reskill the current workforce and prepare younger generations with future-ready skills. The widening gap between traditional education and evolving market demands calls for decisive action. This shift does not signal the disappearance of jobs, but rather their redefinition. Routine tasks are giving way to roles requiring analytical thinking, digital fluency, and creativity. The very nature of employment is transforming from simply executing tasks to managing complex solutions. AI is accelerating this evolution across key sectors including healthcare, manufacturing, and finance, where local case studies show how the technology is cutting costs and improving operational performance. Yet, despite the opportunities AI presents for growth and job creation, significant challenges remain. Chief among them are high adoption costs, underdeveloped infrastructure, and a shortage of qualified professionals. Addressing these issues will require coordinated efforts from the government, private sector, and educational institutions to ensure a balanced digital transformation, one that empowers human potential rather than marginalizing it. Ali Al-Eid, a human resources expert, told Asharq Al-Awsat that digital transformation, future readiness, and awareness of key job skills are now central pillars of Saudi Arabia's national development strategy. While some fear AI may lead to mass job losses, Al-Eid said it will instead reshape existing roles. He expects routine jobs to fade, replaced by positions that demand analytical, digital, and advanced interpersonal skills. Employment will increasingly prioritize flexibility and innovation over years of experience, he added. AI is boosting automation, enabling big data analysis, and improving the speed and accuracy of decision-making, he noted. These changes are reducing waste and enhancing efficiency in sectors like healthcare, logistics, finance, and human resources, where faster decisions and improved outcomes are already evident. He stressed the need for comprehensive strategies that foster innovation, encourage the adoption of new technologies, and ensure a fair transition for workers. This includes investing in reskilling programs and providing social safety nets. According to Al-Eid, the success of future employment initiatives hinges on the private sector's commitment to keeping pace with technological change. Economic policy expert Ahmed Al-Shehri echoed these views, noting that AI is rapidly redrawing the contours of Saudi Arabia's labor market, fueled by Vision 2030's push to diversify the economy and drive innovation. He said AI is automating routine tasks and improving work quality across public and private sectors. Based on global trends, he estimated that between 25 and 30 percent of existing jobs in the Kingdom could be affected by AI by 2030. At the same time, the technology will create new opportunities in high-tech fields and increase productivity by streamlining operations. The oil sector is already seeing tangible benefits. Saudi Aramco, for example, uses AI for predictive maintenance, reducing costs and boosting operational efficiency by up to 20 percent. Al-Shehri added that many educational institutions and stakeholders are prioritizing future skill development to close the gap between conventional education and the needs of a high-tech economy. He said current policies are capable of striking a balance between accelerating technological adoption and preserving existing jobs, thanks to incentives and public-private partnerships, such as those driving mega-projects like NEOM. Tarek Mansour, senior partner at McKinsey, highlighted the findings of recent research by the Future Investment Initiative in collaboration with his firm. According to the study, automation and skill development are key drivers of productivity in the region. It estimated that productivity could grow by 2.7 percent annually by 2030, driven by modern technologies like generative AI, which boosts human creativity in critical sectors such as healthcare and scientific research. Mansour noted that the benefits of digital transformation extend beyond productivity gains. New jobs will be created, and talent shortages in specialized fields, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, could be eased. Gulf countries already possess a strong talent pool and can launch large-scale skill-building programs, especially in strategic and technical sectors, to meet evolving labor market demands and improve youth employment prospects, he remarked. Saudi Arabia, he added, has made impressive strides in embracing technology, with a clear focus on AI readiness and the development of digital infrastructure to keep pace with rapid technological change. A 2024 survey conducted for the study found that 56 percent of companies in the Middle East and North Africa are using AI, compared to 85 percent in the European Union and the United States. However, Mansour pointed out that key barriers to adopting advanced technologies include implementation costs, infrastructure limitations, and a lack of skilled workers. In the Middle East, 52 percent of business leaders cited high costs as a major obstacle, while 45 percent pointed to infrastructure challenges.
CBS News
08-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
HHS to withhold some bonus pay earned by laid-off employees
The Department of Health and Human Services has decided to effectively block the payout of overdue bonuses to many of its laid-off employees, multiple health officials say. The bonuses were tied to high performance by the workers last year, before they were cut from the department. "If the savings from the layoffs were pennies from the HHS budget, this is hundredths of a penny," one current federal health agency employee said of the move. While bonus payments usually go out in April to high-performing federal employees, the department had stalled them from being deposited. Now payouts are scheduled to go out after June 2, under the new decision. This timing prevents the money from being paid out to people who were laid off or took buyouts or early retirement. Most of the workers laid off at the department are still on paid leave under federal policies, ahead of an official "separation" date scheduled for June 2. "We apologize to those of you who were expecting bonuses and truly wish we could have delivered them," human resources officials wrote to the staff of one HHS agency, in an email obtained by CBS News. An appeal sought by some agency officials was "unsuccessful in having it overturned," according to the email. "That's f****d up. They worked hard all last year for those awards," a federal health agency employee said in a message. The decision applies to all agencies and divisions that rely on the department's central human resources office, the Staffing and Recruitment Operations Center, under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This includes laid-off employees of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, as well as a number of standalone offices within the department. A handful of larger agencies where human resources offices are not directly controlled by the department, like at the National Institutes of Health, were able to pay out the bonuses.
