Majority of ME Employees Unhappy With Benefits Packages

Around 67 per cent of professionals working in the Middle East are unhappy with their benefits packages, according to a report released by specialist recruiter Robert Walters.

The report found that 96 per cent of professionals consider benefits a critical factor when accepting a role in the Middle East. Attracting and retaining talent is increasingly becoming a source of concern for firms in the region as the economy revives, said Robert Walters.

The figures revealed by the report also show that the availability of benefits vary between sectors – 93 per cent of engineering professionals receive a travel allowance to visit their home countries, compared to only 45 per cent of their peers in business services.

Around 45 per cent of the employees working in banking and financial services are provided with a budget for educational support, an offer extended to just 15 per cent of the staff working in professional services.

Satisfaction levels regarding the benefits packages also vary, said Robert Walters.

The report found that 84 per cent of banking and financial sector employees and 83 per cent of those in professional services are satisfied with the benefits they receive. But only 50 per cent of the employees in business services were satisfied with their benefits.

Although engineering professionals were the most likely to receive incentives, only 62 per cent were happy with their benefits package.

“The results of this whitepaper should prompt employers to question the range and quality of their benefits packages,” said Jason Grundy, country head, Robert Walters Middle East.

He also said that failing to offer a good benefits package can lead to employers losing talented employees to competitors.

“While it is not unusual that pre-financial crisis benefits packages are often more generous, employers should be careful not to freeze out professionals that have been in the region for a shorter period of time, as this is not always the best indicator of quality.”