Bayt.com, the Middle East’s #1 job site, has recently conducted the ‘Employee Loyalty in the MENA Survey’ in partnership with YouGov, global online market research company, in order to investigate the key factors driving employee loyalty towards the workplace. Data revealed that more than 6 in 10 (62%) employees in Jordan feel loyal to their current employer. Only 13% reported not feeling loyal, while the remainder were neutral.
Loyal employees who are engaged and satisfied at work are the cornerstone of a business. Two-thirds of employees (66%) feel proud when talking about their company’s products and services, and half of respondents (50%) would recommend their company as a good workplace to others.
Benefits of Employee Loyalty
In terms of benefits to business, engaged and loyal employees are more productive, creative, and lead to reduced costs. Better work quality (76%), increased productivity (76%) and going the extra mile (67%) are some of the top perceived benefits of employee loyalty, according to survey data.
High levels of loyalty and engagement can also result in improved financial performance for businesses. A whopping 79% of Jordan employees feel highly engaged in their daily work, and 33% will stay in their current organization for a long time even though other companies might offer them better salaries.
Ola Haddad, Director of Human Resources at Bayt.com says: “As workplaces adapt to the new normal, employers are focusing on factors that drive engagement and impact loyalty. The result: workers are happy with their jobs. Employees consider recognition, salary and benefits to be of utmost importance. Feeling appreciated for their time and efforts creates a bond between employees, management and their organization to further strengthen loyalty.”
Factors Affecting Employee Loyalty
This latest research highlights that having an employee engagement strategy gives employers a competitive advantage in recruiting, retaining and engaging employees. Basic salary (58%), employee-job fit (40%) and additional benefits offered by the company (40%) are the top three factors perceived to impact employee loyalty the most across Jordan.
The survey also showed that employees want their employers to develop a positive culture. Lack of trust in the management of the current employer (58%) is the top reason for not feeling loyal towards the company across the MENA region. This is followed by the lack of job security with nearly 2 in 5 employees (39%) saying so.
When asked about what can employers do to increase the loyalty among their employees, a higher proportion of the respondents in Jordan believe that rewards/ recognition (70%), creating growth opportunities for the employees (58%) and providing benefits (55%) are some of the major factors that can create an impact.
Zafar Shah, Research Director, Data Services at YouGov says: “In order to be successful, organizations need to win the hearts and minds of employees. Rewards and recognition along with growth opportunities create more positive employee experiences. It’s also crucial for companies to take a fresh look at compensation structures and benefits and evaluate the value they bring to employees. As our study shows, loyalty can directly impact work quality and productivity.”
Data for the 2021 Bayt.com Employee Loyalty in the MENA Survey was collected online from June 6 to 10, 2021. Results are based on a sample of 1,835 respondents from countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and Sudan among others.
