On The Money | The National

Dear reader,

The UAE's workforce was largely transient in the past. Expatriates earned good salaries, remitted significant savings back home and chose to retire in their native countries. However, recent times have witnessed a sea change as the UAE takes steps to encourage long-term residency. Residents are now staying longer and putting down roots here.

This has not only resulted in the country's workforce having a long-term approach and becoming multigenerational, it has also seen them demanding more personalised benefits, a recent report by Marsh and Mercer says.

Professionals are seeking perks such as flexible retirement options, pension support and insurance coverage for cancer screening and alternative medicine, among others. Some even want their employers to cover travel expenses related to treatment abroad, as well as mental well-being support.

Meanwhile, the rising cost of living in the UAE is also weighing on employees. Many feel their compensation has not kept pace with increasing expenses, particularly in housing and education, a separate study by consulting firm Korn Ferry found.

Are you satisfied with the workplace benefits offered by your employer? Drop us an email to pf@thenationalnews.com.

Have a great day!

‘Well-settled’ UAE employees demand personalised and long-term work benefits

Half of employees in the UAE said compressed working weeks would be helpful. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The shift in the UAE’s workforce to being more long-term, settled and multigenerational is leading to changes in employee expectations around workplace flexibility and long-term support, a report by professional services firm Marsh and global consultancy Mercer has found.

The workforce now consists of four generations in one company, especially in academia, Adel Alderi, senior consultant at Mercer Marsh Benefits, told The National. "You have Gen Z coming in, millennials and Gen X, and you still have some baby boomers, especially in executive positions," he said.

"The multigenerational demographic change has led to the emergence of two major trends. On one hand, there is growing demand for flexible benefits that take into consideration the individual needs of these different demographics. On the other, you have a growing need for long-term care."

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