Dubai - 2 June 2013:  Aon Hewitt, the global talent, retirement and health solutions business of Aon plc (NYSE: AON), has announced the highly anticipated ‘Best Employers Middle East’ winners*, with three UAE-based companies leading the way in 2013.

DHL Express UAE has been named the region’s Best Employer – the second consecutive time they have featured in the awards – for their achievement and ongoing commitment to delivering employee engagement. They are closely followed by Microsoft Gulf and P&G Near East, with DHL Express Oman and DHL Express Kuwait completing the top five.

Two other UAE-based organizations have also received the illustrious title from Aon Hewitt, with retailer aswaaq and manufacturer Fine Hygienic Paper coming in 12^th and 13^th place respectively.

The announcement follows Aon Hewitt’s third Best Employers Middle East survey, which this year looked at more than 130 businesses with a combined total of over 13,000 employees surveyed. This is representative of a total workforce of more than 267,000 people from around the Middle East – making it the most extensive study of it’s kind in the region. The in-depth study takes a number of key differentiators into account, including high employee engagement scores as a result of a company’s consistent efforts to make employees feel valued, empowered and deliver the employment promise.

Of the 15 organizations found to meet Aon Hewitt’s benchmarks for what makes a Best Employer, the UAE and Egypt are home to the highest number of recipients in the Middle East – with three each – followed by two in Kuwait and one each in Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

The judging panel featured distinguished names from across the region, including: Fatma Al-Houti, HR Director at the UAE’s Federal Authority for Government Human Resources; Shorouk Al Redha, Head of HR at Commercial Bank of Dubai; and Nabil Ramadhan, Chief Operating Officer at DIFC Authority.

The panel considered a wealth of data from the independent employee opinion survey, plus an audit of HR processes as well as interviews with the CEO and leadership team. The 360-degree view of the organization’s employees, its leaders and HR practices, ensures a contextual, unbiased and credible outcome of the study in line with Aon Hewitt’s global standards.

Dr. Markus Wiesner, Chief Executive Officer at Aon Hewitt Middle East, said: “Participation in this year’s Best Employers is the highest yet, which is testament to the increasing focus that organizations across the region are placing on creating a positive work culture.” 

“We are also delighted to see our highest number of Best Employers to date and it is interesting to note that, while average levels of employee engagement in the Middle East are around 59%, this increases to 83% for Best Employers. Put simply, that means almost an extra 20% of people working for a Best Employer enjoys their job compared to the general workforce – and that’s 20% more people who are positively invested in the long-term success of the business.”

Launched globally over 10 years ago, Best Employers has become an international benchmark for business, reflecting the opinions of an unprecedented number of employees and providing companies with a unique opportunity to assess and understand the level of employee engagement.  With unparalleled experience in conducting intensive reviews of HR best practice, Aon Hewitt’s Best Employers is the most robust study of it’s type in the region. 

“From the creation of positive brand advocates and a reduction in staff turnover to improved customer satisfaction, increased business performance and profitability, Best Employers has shown us time and time again how companies that take steps to engender high levels of employee engagement are better placed to harness the discretionary efforts of their team for the benefit of the business,” continued Dr Wiesner.

Testament to the credibility of Aon Hewitt’s Best Employers study is the importance that regional and global brands place on achieving the highly sought-after accreditation. As Frank-Uwe Ungerer, Country Manager for DHL Express UAE, said: “At DHL Express, we firmly believe that our people are what makes our business a success and that is why employee engagement and motivation is at the heart of everything we do.  To be recognized as the region’s number one Best Employer by the world’s leading HR consultancy truly means a lot, because it endorses our continual commitment to implementing the very best HR best practices, employee engagement and corporate social responsibility and ultimately supports our goal to be one of the region’s leading employers of choice.”

The Best Employers Middle East 2013 winners will be presented with their awards at a high profile networking event to be held at The Address Downtown on 13^th June. Attended by members of the judging panel, CEOs and HR leaders, the event will be a celebration of the winners’ success, whilst also providing a valuable platform to highlight the key attributes and best practice examples exemplified by the region’s Best Employers to help other organizations identify areas in which they can develop their own HR practices to become Best Employers in the future.

To find out more about this year’s Best Employers, register for the event or to express an interest in taking part in Best Employers Middle East 2014, visit www.bestemployersmiddleeast.com or connect via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/groups/Best-Employers-Middle-East-4731220.

- Ends -

Notes to editors

*Best Employers Middle East 2013 winners

1. DHL Express UAE (United Arab Emirates)
2. Microsoft Gulf (MENA)
3. P&G Near East (Egypt)
4. DHL Express Oman (Oman)
5. DHL Express Kuwait (Kuwait)
6. Microsoft Egypt (Egypt)
7. Marriott International (MENA)
8. Path Solutions (Kuwait)
9. Cairo Concentrate Plant, Atlantic Industries, A Subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company (Egypt)
10. TNT Express (MENA)
11. GPIC (Bahrain)
12. aswaaq (United Arab Emirates)
13. Fine Hygiene Paper (United Arab Emirates)
14. Coca-Cola (MENA)
15. Alkhabeer Capital (Saudi Arabia)

About Best Employers Middle East

Best Employers Middle East 2013, conducted by Aon Hewitt and now in it's third year, was based on inputs from over 130 organizations. The study received opinions from more than 13,000 employees representing a workforce of over 267,000 people, making it the most extensive study of it's type in the region. The research identifies best-in-class people practices and how they enable business performance, particularly focusing on levels of employee engagement in an organization. The study was open to participation from organizations in nine countries (Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE) who have been operational for more than two years and employ more than 50 full-time members of staff.

For more information, visit www.bestemployersmiddleeast.com.

About Aon Hewitt

Aon Hewitt empowers organizations and individuals to secure a better future through innovative talent, retirement and health solutions. We advise, design and execute a wide range of solutions that enable clients to cultivate talent to drive organizational and personal performance and growth, navigate retirement risk while providing new levels of financial security, and redefine health solutions for greater choice, affordability and wellness.  Aon Hewitt is the global leader in human resource solutions, with over 30,000 professionals in 90 countries serving more than 20,000 clients worldwide. 

For more information on Aon Hewitt, please visit www.aonhewitt.com.

About Aon

Aon plc (NYSE:AON) is the leading global provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources solutions and outsourcing services. Through its more than 65,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon unites to empower results for clients in over 120 countries via innovative and effective risk and people solutions and through industry-leading global resources and technical expertise. Aon has been named repeatedly as the world’s best broker, best insurance intermediary, reinsurance intermediary, captives manager and best employee benefits consulting firm by multiple industry sources. Visit www.aon.com for more information on Aon and www.aon.com/manchesterunited to learn about Aon’s global partnership and shirt sponsorship with Manchester United. 

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