Some companies in the UAE are expanding commission-based incentives beyond their sales teams to reward employees for exceptional performance. This initiative is helping UAE companies retain the best available talent while employees benefit in the form of additional income amid the rising cost of living in the country.
“We have seen a rise in commissions/bonuses for people outside of sales. It may be calculated on business performance or department key metrics. They may even be based on customer satisfaction in retail or customer service-focused environments,” said One of owner and managing director of Recruitment.
“Traditionally, commissions were predominantly offered to sales positions. Now we are seeing the trend where people who are working in the services and operations are looking for positions where incentives are tied to KPIs. Indirectly, they are seeking ways to grow their income – not at the expense of the business, but delivering quality to the business so that company makes money and they want a cut out of it serial .
The cost of living in the UAE has increased in the past three and a half years due to a big jump in rentals among others.
HOW EMPLOYEEES ARE INCREASING THEIR INCOME IN DUBAI
In Dubai employees are very keen to find options to generate additional income within their organisation.
“They take up additional tasks within the organisation, rather than look for a second task at a different company. They are indirectly looking at second employment with the same employer. Employees merge two positions so that they can make a little bit more income. The companies are also offering this because they probably don’t want to pay two salaries. So this way the employer also saves money..
Secondly employees have started doing side hustles and freelancing work.
Don’t see many people doing 2 or 3 jobs in UAE. They are doing one job, but a lot of employees are using whatever skill-set they have and offer freelance services. For example, graphic designers are selling digital art pieces on e-commerce platforms to earn additional income. That kind of second revenue streams are growing tremendously. We see a huge growth of freelancers and solo entrepreneurs – one-person company.”
In Dubai cost of living has increased, employees have gone back to the drawing board to cut expenses. “I see people sharing carpooling, downsizing accommodation. They are not wasting money any more. You can see that people are moving a little bit away from expensive brands when it comes to shopping, they are staying true to relevant and important as an expense.”
In order to increase their income, there are more people opting for side hustles and investments, etc. “But not all streets are paved with gold… hardly any in fact. If people concentrate on their jobs, they may earn more money or get more opportunities
In Dubai there are lot of ‘job hoppers’ who switch jobs to increase their income, but warned that it could damage the candidates’ future job prospects.
“We see a lot of ‘job hoppers’ and perhaps in the short term this increases income but it can be very damaging on the overall CV, so we would always advise to look at career advancement in a holistic manner. Considering salary, benefits, culture, progression, the team and does it align with your career goals and not just financial,” she suggested.
More benefits like schooling should be implemented by employers to help employees overcome the rising cost of challenges.
“Employers should sit and ask their employees what they need and start implementing new policies to alleviate some of the rises in costs. This could include incentives, cash bonuses, extra flights, family benefits or even wellness-related activities. At the end of the day, it’s much more expensive losing good employees and it might be something small that is needed to retain.
A consultancy in Dubai is going out of its way to create a healthier and more engaging work environment for its employees with initiatives like allowing pets in the office and the use of walking pads while working.
As employees worldwide increasingly seek a holistic approach to workplace well-being, Kekst CNC, a global communications advisory firm, has recognised this trend and taken proactive steps.
JOB OPPORTUNITY
Loop Global, a US-based turnkey provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, is set to make a significant impact on the UAE’s EV infrastructure with plans to install 1,000 units in the country within the next year.
Loop provides hi-tech level 2 and DC fast-charging solutions for residential, workplace and public areas. Its flagship Flex and Infinity systems cater to both passenger and commercial vehicles. These systems offer rapid charging capabilities, with the 22 kW EV-Flex stations providing up to 77 miles of range per hour and the quick-charging 300 kW Infinity Flash stations delivering up to 800 miles of range per hour. Its mobile app allows drivers to find the nearest chargers and then initiate, monitor, and pay for charging.