Chalhoub Group has announced its updated “Flexible Working Policy,” which has been introduced across its offices in the GCC. Based on employee-employer trust and put in place to ensure equity while enhancing efficiency across the group, the workplace policy provides colleagues with the opportunity to maintain and enjoy a work-life balance that nurtures their well-being.
Chalhoub Group first launched its Flexible Working Policy in 2020 as an agile response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following an internal survey, which conveyed a general consensus for the need of maintaining a flexible working environment, the policy was revised with its 2023 guidelines and structure to standardize its implementation across the group. Built on three main pillars, the new policy is designed to serve employees through Flexitime, Working from Home and Working from Abroad.
Workplace culture and flexibility have never been more important as this occupational phenomenon continues to impact the well-being of employees on a global scale. According to a new study from Future Forum, 42 percent of employees worldwide are experiencing burnout, an increase of 2 percent compared to that of the previous three-month period. This also comes at a time where flexible work support and training were listed as two of the top five areas requested by employees to improve company culture, according to the 2022 LinkedIn Global Talents Trends Report.
Wassim Eid, president of people and culture at Chalhoub Group, said: “Our new Flexible Working Policy is a testament to Chalhoub Group’s commitment to employee well-being and creating an inclusive culture for our colleagues. We continue to redefine flexibility for our store consultants to find solutions that support the nature of their jobs and the group’s omnichannel operations. From maternity leave to returnship and in a region where expatriates make up the majority of the population, we acknowledge the need for a unique approach that supports their work-life balance. We truly believe that when we extend trust and focus on the output more than the input, empowered team members feel motivated, recognized and inspired.”
Flexitime will provide employees across the group with the autonomy to choose their start time as long as they complete an 8-hour working day (including lunch break), with fixed group core business hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but with varying start and end times. The second pillar — Working from Home — allows employees to work from home for up to two days per week for all eligible roles and in alignment with their respective managers. Team members across Chalhoub Group in eligible roles will also be able to work from abroad for a total of four weeks per year as part of the policy’s third pillar — Working from Abroad.
Recognized as a “Great Place to Work” across seven GCC countries — the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, India, Egypt and Qatar — Chalhoub Group has stepped up its pledge to embed corporate wellness as an integral part of its company culture through the roll-out of a series of well-being initiatives.
