Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week

One of the key aims of the UAE Vision 2021 is to boost local economy by implementing green growth plans for long term sustainable development of the nation. Dubai has put in motion plans to divert 75 percent of the waste away from the landfill as per the National Agenda. This includes reduce, reuse and recycle waste to prevent it from ending at the landfill. Private companies have a very integral role to play in reducing, recovering and recycling waste to prevent its disposal to landfill either as waste producer or as waste management and recycling companies.

Aims & Objectives
The main objective of CEO Dialogue was to initiate a discussion on the potential strategies of joint action by private and public sector to achieve waste diversion goals of Dubai.
The secondary objective was to discuss the key challenges in strengthening the partnership and how to overcome these challenges.

Target Audience

• Business Leaders, CEOs, COOs, Managing Directors, VPs, Head Strategy, Head Business Excellence, Head EHS,Head Waste Management Department.

To view full agenda, please click here

Waste Solutions Exhibition was devoted to showcasing and highlighting progressive sustainable and innovative practices, services and technologies to reduce, recycle and recover waste throughout the region.

Exhibitors highlighted

• Practices, solutions and technologies for waste management & recycling
• Food waste reducing & recycling services & technologies
• Eco products and green products
• Services to reduce, repair and recycle e-waste
• Products made out of waste or recycling material
• Waste Audit Services

Benefits of the Waste Solutions Exhibition

• A networking opportunity for delegates and exhibitors from public and private organizations
• Opportunity to showcase the latest innovative waste management solutions
• A platform to demonstrate thought leadership in waste management and sustainability

To view exhibition brochure, please click here

Roundtable Discussion on “Waste Management Strategies by Businesses to Achieve UAE Waste Diversion Goals” discussed the potential strategies, tools and processes that can be adopted and implemented to bring the awareness, right technology and infrastructure for efficient and quality recycling to achieve waste diversion goals of UAE.

The discussion revolved around the following topics:

• How private sector can contribute towards the delivery of integrated waste management services.
• What are the key challenges in waste segregation for resource recovery and how to overcome these as a key strategy of waste management
• What will facilitate the partnerships between private and public sector to provide right technology, infrastructure and financial resources for processing and recycling.
• What can be the various proposed laws, regulations and policies that can be enforced to encourage private sector for efficient segregation, collection, transportation and recycling.

The main points of discussion, suggestions and recommendations made were included in the whitepaper on non-hazardous industrial solid waste management as a follow up action of the discussion.

Aims & Objectives

• To bring together different waste management stakeholders to identify the key challenges and issues faced in segregation, collection and transportation and recycling and how to overcome these with the active participation of private sector.

Target Audience

• Business Leaders, CEOs, COOs, Managing Directors, VPs, Head Strategy, Head Business Excellence, Head EHS, Head Waste Management Department.

To view full agenda please click here

One big component of waste in UAE is in the form of food waste. Nearly 197 kg of food is wasted per person per annum and is reported to be highest in the world after Saudi Arabia. Thus it is highly important to curb food waste especially in the retail and hospitality business to achieve environment objective of the National Agenda 2021.

The workshop on reducing food waste “Stop Food Waste” not only created awareness among private companies from retail and hospitality sector but also showcased on how to practically save food from being wasted.

Aims & Objectives

• To create awareness among private companies particularly from retail and hospitality sector on reducing food waste
• To learn how to reduce food waste through practical demonstration of tools, strategies and processes.

Target Audience

• Member Companies, Food Retail and Hospitality Business: Business Leaders, CEOs, COOs, Managing Directors, VPs, Head Strategy, Head Business Excellence, Head EHS,Head Waste Management Department.

To view full agenda please click here

Ref: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/general/how-much-food-uae-residents-waste-in-a-year

*7th November to 20th November (companies & schools organized internal campaign)
21st to 26th November (sent collected material for recycling and reporting to Dubai Chamber Centre for Responsible Business).

Companies started their preparations and organized campaign well in advance and concluded during sustainability week to run it successfully and for longer duration.

One of the key aims of the UAE Vision 2021 is to boost the economy by implementing green growth plans for long term sustainable development of the nation. Dubai has put in motion plans to divert 75 percent of the waste away from the landfill as per the National Agenda. Waste reduction, segregation and collection is one of the most critical strategy for recovering and recycling waste and prevent it from going to the landfill. There is also a need for a practical demonstration of this action to raise awareness among community and businesses to be able to achieve UAE’s waste diversion goals. Thus the “Let’s Reduce and Recycle” campaign encouraged and inspired organizations and community to take “Let’s Do It” approach.

Below mentioned were the activities undertaken by companies and schools internally. Organizations took any one or more than one activity out of the following:

Campaign activities undertaken ( Minimum – any one, Maximum-all)

Data Collection and Reporting
As a follow up of the campaign, a report were prepared with following Campaign KPIs:

• Total recyclables collected and sent for recycling
• Total no. of people/ employees participated

Aims & Objectives

• To raise awareness on the importance of waste segregation and recycling and to inspire action to divert waste away from landfill.

Target participants

• Schools
• Universities and Colleges
• Private and Public Sector Organizations (employees and their families)
• Families
• Individuals

The Concluding Ceremony shared the highlights of the discussion and results during the Sustainability Week events like CEO Dialogue, Round Table Discussion, Exhibition, Workshop on Food Waste and Recycling campaign.

In the concluding ceremony all the exhibitor companies of the waste solutions exhibition and companies/organizations participated in recycling campaign were given a certificate of appreciation.

Aims & Objectives

• To celebrate the achievements of the Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week on World Without Waste
• To acknowledge the contributions made by participating companies towards World Without Waste

Target Audience

• Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week 2019 participating companies

To view full agenda please click here

Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week 2019, World Without Waste, organized by Dubai Chamber Centre for Responsible Business was highly successful and attracted overwhelming participation from government, business, schools, universities and community.

More than 18183 people participated in different events from 291 organizations.

Different events organized as a part of the sustainability week were:

CEO Dialogue: Coordinating Efforts to Achieve UAE Waste Diversion Goals

It was organized in partnership with Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.

Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week 2019 – World without Waste was launched with the CEO Dialogue held at the University of Dubai.

HE Hamad Baumim PCEO of Dubai Chamber opened the Dialogue followed by a keynote speech by HE Dr Thani Ahmed al Zeyoudi, Miniter of Climate Change and Environment on UAE setting national priorities, policies and initiatives on its waste diversion goals. The keynote speech was followed by a speech by HE Dr. Eesa Mohammed Bastaki, President of the University of Dubai, the education arm of the Dubai Chamber emphasizing the role of academia and research for effective management of Waste.

A High Level Panel was organized by the CEOs of the companies from Sudeko, Unilever, Beeah, Enviroserve, Dulsco on reducing, recovering and recycling waste to prevent its disposal to landfill. The panel highlighted some of the key strategic priorities related to waste management in the UAE.

• Reframing waste as a resource
• Emphasising on the need of responsible consumers/consumerism
• Harmonizing bottom up and top down approach for efficient management of waste
• Analysing the full environmental cost and benefits of bioplastics

Round Table Discussion on Waste Management Strategies by Businesses to Achieve UAE Waste Diversion Goals

The Round Table Discussion was organized to initiate a discussion on the potential strategies of joint action by private and public sector to achieve waste diversion goals of Dubai.

The key points discussed for waste diversion were as follows:

• Emphasis on segregation of recycling material from waste at the primary source.
• Life cycle analysis of company’s own products and designing it with a concept of circular economy, reduce waste at each stage of supply chain from sourcing of raw material until it reaches consumer.
• Partnerships and collaborations between private and public sector to provide right technology, infrastructure and financial resources also needs a boost for processing and recycling.

Some of the key challenges identified are:

• Limited infrastructure to support the collection and recycling of waste streams.
• Lack of transparency in the traceability of waste management.
• Landfill is still an option, preventing waste recycling.

The discussion also revolved around regulatory laws and policies on incentives for the use of recycled materials. Penalties for waste disposal and banning the use of plastic bags.

The key points discussed were mentioned in the whitepaper on “Recycling Non-hazardous Industrial Solid Waste” published by Centre for Responsible Business.

Waste Solutions Exhibition

Waste Solutions Exhibition was organized on the third day of Sustainability week.

Exhibitors Highlighted the various Practices, solutions and technologies for waste management & recycling, Food waste reducing & recycling services & technologies, Eco products or green products, Services to reduce e-waste- repair, recycle, Products made out of waste or recycling material and Waste Audit Services

Not only businesses, various schools also participated in the exhibition, showing their creative  and useful products made out of waste material products made out of waste material. The highlight of the exhibition was innovativeness and level of environmental awareness of young children.

Workshop on Food Waste-Stop Food Waste

It was hosted by Fairmont the Palm Hotel by Accor Group of Hotels.

The workshop on reducing food waste “Stop Food Waste” was organized to create awareness among private companies on reducing food waste and to learn how to reduce, and manage food wastage through practical tools, strategies and processes. 

The participants of the food waste workshop saw and learned from the Chefs, some of the practical aspects of, how with the use of technology, the hotel is measuring, monitoring and reporting to reduce and to have positive economic, social and environmental impact.

Another important aspect highlighted in the presentation was managing and composting food waste to divert it away from landfill and give it back to mother earth. The emphasis of the workshop was also on reducing food waste for economic benefit of the business and improving its performance towards sustainability, social impact on reducing hunger and environmental impact of decreasing waste on land, water and air.

Let’s Reduce & Recycle Campaign

Action speaks louder than words! Throughout the Sustainability Week the emphasis was that there is need for behavioral and attitudinal change to change the practices and to improve recycling habits amongst employees.

It’s was very overwhelming to see the great enthusiasm with which companies and schools have participated in big numbers engaging their employees and students to be a part of the overall strategy of reducing, segregating and sending for recycling.

Many companies were so encouraged by this approach of waste diversion that they have decided to follow this even after the Sustainability Week.

Some of the results related to Let’s Reduce and Recycle campaign as give in below table.

Concluding Ceremony “Celebrating the Achievements”

To mark and acknowledge the participation and contributions of the participating companies and schools , Concluding Ceremony “Celebrating the Achievements” was organized at the end of the Dubai Chamber Sustainability week 2019 to formally close the week and also to share the impact and the results of the sustainability week with participants.  Certificate of appreciation was given to the participants for making Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week, 2019, World Without Waste , one of the most successful programme of the year.

Background context, scope and rationale
In line with Dubai Chamber’s mission, Centre for Responsible Business(CRB) is providing an excellent learning & networking platform for its member companies, raising awareness on the latest global and local sustainability trends and standards, best practices, opportunities and challenges and advocacy on regulatory frameworks. 

With an objective to continuously upgrade and expand our programmes and to meet the growing need of the business, for the first time in 2019, we launched Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week focused on one theme towards finding practical solutions and innovative technologies to the most pressing problems that the businesses are facing. The purpose of the Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week is to drive breakthrough change in business strategy and practices for their cultural shift, operational efficiency, cost savings, improved social and environmental business performance and above all to strengthen the cooperation between business and its stakeholders. 

In 2019 the theme of Sustainability Week was “World Without Waste” to reduce, recover and recycle waste. The week was highly successful and attracted overwhelming participation from government, business, schools, universities and community organizations.

For Dubai Chamber sustainability week 2020, CRB has chosen the topic “Human Health and Happiness” with focus on Healthy Employees, Healthy Community, Healthy Business as a theme. Given the COVID-19 outbreak, because of health concerns of the people around the world, economy has come to a shrieking standstill due to heavy lockdowns all over the world. This health calamity has proved out to be the greatest global crisis after World War II.  Supply chains around the world has been disrupted with considerable drop down in production, transport, distribution, customer demand and sales. Business operated through remote working from home to keep its employees safe and protected. Offices that tried to operate as usual were also immediately closed if any single case of infection was found to prevent its spread to other employees due to health and safety. At present businesses are highly concerned about employee’s health and happiness. This health crisis has not only brought significant physical health ill effects for people but has also led to develop mental health consequences like tension, anxiety, panic and insecurity that are equally harmful for employees. Thus in current scenario, the biggest business priority is to improve the health and happiness of its employees and to successfully navigate through this unusual worldwide threat.

Prior to COVID 19 also, one of the main aims of the UAE Government is to make the country amongst the top five happiest countries in the world by 2021, as a part of the National Agenda, under the pillar of Cohesive Society and Preserved Identity .

National Programme for Happiness and Well-Being, which also serves as National Charter for Happiness, launched a 'Business for Well-being Council' in December 2019 to enhance workplace wellbeing in the private sector and to achieve National Strategy on Wellbeing 2031 as its main objective .
Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week 2020 “Employee Health and Happiness” will thus focus on Healthy Employees, Healthy Business is an effort to spread awareness among business community, that health and happiness of its employees is of prime importance to unleash the potential within individuals to shape a better future for business sustainability.

The main objectives of Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week 2020 under the theme Healthy Employees, Healthy Business are:

• To raise awareness among businesses to cultivate a culture of health and happiness culture for business sustainability (CEO Dialogue).
• To learn by doing and improve employees’ health habits, behaviors, happiness level, efficiency and productivity (Campaign).
• To encourage flexible working for physical and emotional wellbeing of employees and to have positive influence on business performance: opportunities and challenges ( Round Table Discussion)
• To highlight benefits of some of the practical, innovative tools and technological solutions available for wellness and wellbeing( Multi stakeholder Discussion)

Why did we chose this theme?

1. Employees Health and Wellbeing is one of the pillars of CSR in the Workplace
2. Improving employees health and wellbeing is shown to reduce absenteeism due to reduced sick leaves, increase productivity, and improve the overall work environment of the organization.
3. The theme is aligned with National Programme for Happiness and Well-Being
4. Keeping employees healthy is the dominant business sustainability factor given the current scenario.

Participation
We expect a high level of participation from both public and private sector organizations, their management and employees. 

Activities: 

1. Campaign: “Let’s create a healthy and happy workplace”
   Driving change in internal business practices on employees health and happiness through Let's Do It approach
   Date: (18th October-5th November)
    
2. CEO Dialogue: Cultivating a Culture of employees health and happiness for business sustainability
   Bringing the thought leadership together to discuss the most feasible and viable solutions to cultivate a culture of employees health and happiness in a sustainable manner
   Date: Sunday, 8th November 2020
    
3. Round Table Discussion: Remote Working Opportunities and Challenges, and Potential Solutions to Overcome those Challenges
   Discussing the perspectives and practical solutions from the practitioners in the field on how the future workplace should be flexible for remote working) for physical and emotional wellbeing of employees. ( Inferences from the same can use used to develop whitepaper next year)
   Date: Monday, 9th November 2020
    
4. Multi stakeholder Discussion: Using Technology to Promote Employee Wellness and Wellbeing
   Discussion on practical, innovative tools ( Happiness Lab, sustainable workplace elements) and technological solutions for wellness and wellbeing on the basis of experiences of the users or implementers of some such solutions
   Date: Tuesday, 10th November 2020
    
5. Concluding Ceremony: Celebrating the Achievements of the Sustainability Week 2020
   To appreciate and acknowledge the participation of the business in taking up practical projects on employee’s health and wellbeing as a part of the sustainability week.
   Date: Thursday, 12th November 2020
    

References:
https://government.ae/en/about-the-uae/the-uae-government/government-of-future
https://government.ae/en/about-the-uae/the-uae-government/government-of-future/happiness
https://www.hw.gov.ae/en/news/national-program-for-happiness-and-wellbeing-launches-business-for-wellbeing-council
https://www.thenational.ae/uae/government/uae-launches-well-being-council-to-boost-workplace-happiness-1.953040
https://www.government.ae/en/information-and-services/health-and-fitness/vision-2021-and-health
https://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/expo-2020-prepares-for-next-gen-healthcare-innovations-2019-09-02-1.689169

Background

For Dubai Chamber sustainability week 2020, CRB has chosen the topic “Employee Health and Happiness” under the theme Healthy Employees, Healthy Business.  Given the COVID-19 outbreak, businesses have prioritized employee’s wellness programmes for their health and happiness. Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week 2020 thus focuses on Healthy Employees, Healthy Business in an effort to spread awareness among business community. There is also a need for a practical demonstration of such action to raise awareness among public, private and community organizations to be able to achieve good health and wellbeing of its people. Thus, “Let’s Create a Healthy and Happy Workplace” campaign will encourage and inspire organizations, and drive change in internal practices through “Let’s Do It” approach by taking up the campaign.

The main objectives of Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week 2020 “Let’s Create a Healthy and Happy Workplace” campaign is to improve employees’ health and happiness by raising awareness, encouraging and engaging in healthy habits, changing mindsets, behaviors and practices towards good health and happiness  to increase organization’s overall efficiency and productivity. Below mentioned are the activities that can be undertaken by participating organizations internally for their employees. They can take any one or more than one activity out of the following: The activities mentioned here are only examples and not limited. Participating companies can choose to customizes or even change these as per their context and relevance. In addition, all the events must be virtual/ remote or following social distancing and COVID 19 related safety measures and protocols.

Target participants

• Employees of participating companies.

Objectives

The main objectives of Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week 2020 “Let’s Create a Healthy and Happy Workplace” campaign is to improve employees’ health and happiness by raising awareness, encouraging and engaging in healthy habits, changing mindsets, behaviors and practices towards good health and happiness to increase organization’s overall efficiency, productivity and performance

The campaign aims to influence change at workplace through “Let’s do it approach”.

Duration of the Campaign within the company

• 1 week to 3 weeks, Any time from 18^th October to 5^th November

Timelines

• Registration with CRB: Companies should send their entry latest by 15th October, communicating the dates of their campaign.
• Internal communication by companies: Participating companies will do internal communication through use of mails, posters, etc. to have maximum participation.
• Campaign duration: 1 week to 3 weeks; Any time from 18th October to 5th November. Participating companies will run internal campaign.
• Conducting Happiness survey at the end of the campaign: How do you rate your happiness because of campaign on the scale of 1 to 10, 1 lowest and 10 highest.
• Data collection and internal reporting: Participating companies will collect and compile data and will prepare a report on following:
  1. No. of employees participated
  2. No. of activities undertaken
  3. Happiness Rate checked through post campaign Survey
• Sharing report with CRB: Companies should send their report latest by 8th November.

Campaign Model HAMSO (Happiness , Awareness, Motivation, Skills and Opportunities). Companies can do campaign around HAMSO (Happiness, Awareness, Motivation, Skills and Opportunities).

• Creating happy environment through various happiness initiatives.
• Building awareness and education on the topic chosen through seminars, workshops, sessions, talks, discussions etc.
• Providing the right kind of motivation to employees through real time challenges, contests, competitions etc. on physical fitness, emotional health, healthy lifestyle, healthy eating.
• Supporting employees by providing practical oriented skills, tools and training on how to measure, monitor and assess their health, use of biometric screening, use of health mobile apps, reading nutrition labels, guide to healthy cooking, healthy recipes etc.
• Adopting the campaign as an opportunity to change the policies, social support and environment at workplace towards employee’s health, happiness & fitness. For example, starting a gym in office premises, provided gym membership to employees, cafeteria with only healthy eating options, standing meetings, team activities with health as focus, incentives and awards for employees with zero sick leave, least doctor’s visit etc.

For more details on the campaign, please click here.

The Business for Well-being Council, an initiative within the National Programme for Happiness, launched in December 2019 to enhance workplace wellbeing in the private sector and to achieve National Strategy on Wellbeing 2031.  In July 2020, it published a research report on “Wellbeing in the Private Sector”. The report emphasizes the importance of mental health and wellbeing in increasing workplace efficiency and productivity especially for the post-COVID phase.  Some of the key highlights of the research, as mentioned in the report, include the positive association between certain types of leadership and employee wellbeing and mental health; the potential positive impact of flexibility in working time and place on employee’s happiness; and the need for reforms  that enhance the working environment for improving overall workplace experience. 

Against this backdrop, the CEO Dialogue will provide a platform to discuss the policies and practices that enhance employee health, happiness and business sustainability.  It will also be an opportunity to brainstorm on the best ways to remove key barriers to employees’ health and happiness. 

Addressing employees’ health and happiness requires a multi-stakeholder approach. Thus, CEO Dialogue advocates for a coordinated approach from the different key stakeholders from both the public and private sector to address some of the key issues related to employees health, happiness and wellbeing. 

Aims & Objectives

The main objective of CEO Dialogue is to further the ongoing discussion on the potential strategies to cultivate a culture of employee’s health and happiness in a sustainable manner and overcome the key challenges and propose solutions to improve overall employees’ health and wellbeing.

• Importance of employee’s health and happiness or wellbeing.
• Most feasible and viable strategy to cultivate a culture of employee’s health and happiness in a sustainable manner and how this could be used as a key approach to improve workplace efficiency and productivity in long run.
• Key challenges and possible solutions in cultivating a culture of wellbeing.

Target Audience

Business Leadership- CEOs, Managing Directors, VPs, Head of strategy, CHRO and HR Directors.

To view full agenda, please click here
Please click here to view the recording of the webinar.

In response to Covid-19 pandemic many companies to move working from office to home, relying more than ever on remote work tools, in an effort to maintain business continuity. For a number of companies, this is the first time that their employees have to collaborate, operate and communicate virtually through technological means. 

Even though there are benefits associated with remote work, such as reduced road traffic, offices energy savings, flexible work schedule and a better work-life balance for employees, there are also a number of challenges emerging from working remotely.

According to a report[1] published by Buffer, “State of Remote Work report 2020”, the most common problems remote workers faced are loneliness (20%), collaboration and communication (20%), not being able to unplug (18%), distractions at home (12%) and time zones (10%). The roundtable is organized to address these challenges.

Aims
The purpose of the roundtable is not to advocate a culture of remote work, but rather to create a debate to highlight the opportunities and challenges associated with the remote working culture in the UAE during and post Covid-19 pandemic, as well as to identify potential solutions to overcome those challenges.

Target Audience
Dubai Chamber Members, CRB Members, Government, not for profit organizations working on health and wellbeing, technological providers, employee health and wellbeing practitioners.

To view full agenda please click here
Please click here to view the recording of the webinar.

Date: 9th November 2020
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Venue: Zoom Webinar

Recently a number of tools (such as online platforms and applications) and technological solutions (such as wearable tech) have been introduced into the workplace to enhance employee wellness and wellbeing. However, it will be interesting to explore what technologies are currently available to Dubai businesses and how can they best take advantage of it and innovate their wellness and wellbeing strategies.

The main aim of the multi-stakeholder event is to bring together different stakeholders from the private and public sectors to identify what technological solutions are available to enhance employee wellness and wellbeing strategies, as well as identify the key benefits and challenges that are present when introducing these technologies.

Aims and objectives:
The objective of the event will be to seek answers the following questions:

• What technological solutions are available in the market?
• What impact do these solutions have on employee wellness and wellbeing?
• What are the key benefits for these technologies?
• What are the key challenges for these technologies?
• How can a corporate utilize these tools and solutions to help innovate wellness and wellbeing strategies in combination with other conventional methods?

Target Audience
Dubai Chamber Members, CRB Members, Government, not for profit organizations working on health and wellbeing, technological providers, employee health and wellbeing practitioners.

To view full agenda, please click here
Please click here to view the recording of the webinar.

Date: 10th November 2020
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Venue: Zoom Webinar

All throughout the Dubai Chamber sustainability week 2020 there will be events like CEO Dialogue, Round Table Discussion Multistakeholder Dialogue, and Employees Health and Happiness campaign. The concluding ceremony will be to share the main highlights of discussion, results and impact achieved all throughout the week through these activities and also to share the results of the employees’ health and happiness campaign.

Aims & Objectives

• To celebrate the achievements of the Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week on Employee Health and Happiness
• To acknowledge the contributions made by participating companies towards Employee Health and Happiness

Target Audience
Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week 2020 participating companies

To view full agenda please click here
Please click here to view the recording of the webinar.

Date: 12th November 2020
Time: 11.00 AM – 12:00 PM
Venue: Zoom Webinar

Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week 2020 on Employees Health and Happiness organized by Dubai Chamber Centre for Responsible Business was highly successful and attracted overwhelming participation from Public, Private Sector, Not for profit organizations and Academic Institutions
Over 57500 people from 272 organizations participated in different events of Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week 2020

Different events organized as a part of the sustainability week 
Held November 8th-12th under the theme “Employees Health and Happiness”, Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week 2020 featured a series of events as follows: 

CEO Dialogue on Cultivating a Culture of Employees Health and Happiness for Business Sustainability
The CEO Dialogue event, organised as launch event of the sustainability week, was joined by high-level speakers and panelists: H.E. Majid Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chamber; Rola Abu Manneh, CEO, Standard Chartered, UAE; Stuart Harrison, CEO, Emrill Services LLC; Phil Malem, CEO, Serco Middle East; and Andrew Shaw, CEO , Ducab Group.

These CEOs shared valuable insights on employee well-being and best practices in boosting employee engagement. Industry experts highlighted the need to communicate continuously, make engagement a part of company’s DNA, lead with purpose, and build a culture of trust and listen to employees voice, provide them security and stability. They also emphasized that happy and engaged employees are more productive, and less likely to leave the organization.

Roundtable Discussion on Remote Working Opportunities and Challenges
 The roundtable shed light on the opportunities and challenges associated with the remote working culture in the UAE during and post Covid-19 pandemic, as well as to identify potential solutions to overcome those challenges. The discussion was mainly around three pillars of remote working: Physical, Psychological and Professional. Among the main suggestions made by participants were that the organizations should consider a hybrid work environment, a combination of office and remote working as a permanent feature and provide employees with the necessary tools, techniques and equipment’s for suitable work environment at home. Participants also discussed that the business should focus not only on physical health but also on mental wellbeing of employees. 

The main moderator of the round table discussion was Mr. K B Balmurali, Chief People Officer, Transworld Group. The individual group discussion were moderated by Mr. Youshey Zakiuddin, Senior Executive Corporate Sustainability, du,  Mr. Gurubasu Katageri, Environmental & Sustainability Specialist, Six Construct and Divya N T, Head – Employee Happiness, Paramount Computer Systems. 

Multi Stakeholder Dialogue on Using Technology to Promote Employee Wellness and Wellbeing
At the Multi stakeholder Dialogue, different stakeholders from the private and public sectors highlighted various technological solutions that are available to enhance employee wellness and wellbeing strategies, as well as identified the key benefits and challenges of using these technologies. Among the speakers were Alyaa Al Mulla - Director, National Program for Happiness & Wellbeing, Office of the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Emily Franklin - Head of Corporate Wellness, Steppi and Toneya Sarwar - Head of HR Middle East & Africa, Cisco. 

The participants emphasized on the role of building and understanding corporate culture in order to best utilize technology. They also discussed on how monitoring stress levels using different tools and techniques and analyzing the trends associated with it can help plan different assignments and tasks to increase workplace productivity.

Campaign - Let’s Create a Healthy and Happy Workplace 
Let’s create a healthy and happy workplace” campaign on employee’s health and happiness was an integral part of Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week 2020 and was highly successful since it achieved its desired objectives of commendably facilitating the business to implement initiatives and projects, to improve their employees’ health and happiness.

It was very overwhelming and very encouraging to see such a strong engagement of different organizations in the campaign that attracted the participation of more than 57,000 employees, 42 companies and 9 schools, universities and not for profit organizations.

More than 417 activities or projects related to health and happiness were organized by different organizations as a part of the campaign. Some of the broad themes adopted by organizations to undertake a campaign are given in the below illustration.

Organizations also measured the happiness level of their employees through post campaign survey, the results of which showed that on an average more than 97.88 percent of the people were happy post campaign.

Concluding Ceremony “Celebrating the Achievements”
Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week ended with a strong note highlighting the key takeaways of different events and the impact created by “Let’s create a healthy and happy workplace” campaign on employees health and happiness.

Concluding Ceremony of Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week 2020 was held virtually also to acknowledge, appreciate and applaud the great work done by participating companies in not only attending different events but also organizing activities and projects within their business for their employees on health and happiness. 

Three speakers from the private sector who had organized the campaign within their business also shared their outcome and results, impact and key learnings from the campaign. These experts were Lana Gigashvil, HR Business Partner, Gulf Countries Employee Wellbeing Champion, Middle East from Schneider Electric,  Suneeth Mathew, Safety Health & Environment Officer from Nestle UAE LLC and Cecile Charpentier Houart, HR Director from Michelin.