Daman, the headline sponsor of Daman Corporate Health Awards, the only awards scheme in the UAE that recognises corporate wellness initiatives, has announced the top 10 companies to work for in the country.

“For the companies and organisation we have recognised this year, employees come first – their wellbeing, productivity and happiness. In honouring their workplace wellness initiatives, we hope to encourage others to follow their lead and realise that achieving business success begins with taking care of a company’s most important asset – its employees,” said Dr Michael Bitzer, chief executive officer of National Health Insurance Company – Daman.

Workplace of the Year honours went to Canon Middle East, who undertook a major renovation effort as part of initiatives to enhance employee comfort and productivity, as well as creativity.

Beyond the office redevelopment, Canon launched Space360, where everything from the design, lighting, materials, and accents, has added value, catering specifically to its employees' wellbeing, happiness and ability to be innovative in their work. As a result of these initiatives, there has been a noticeable change in the mindsets of the company’s employees, as well as in their productivity and happy dispositions.

The Daman Award for Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative was given to Ambulatory Healthcare Services – SEHA for its pioneering Inta Gadha programme, the biggest health competition in Abu Dhabi. The project was aimed at providing creative and innovative solutions to fight the increasing rates of obesity in the UAE.

The initiative targeted 30 government entities with the participation of more than 1200 individuals overseen by a team of 12 dieticians. By visiting government employees in their respective workplace, Inta Gadha enabled contestants to participate without having to take time off work and it provided non-Thiqa insurance card holders with free access to dietician services.

Among the success metrics achieved by the competition that impressed the judges are the 1700 kilos dropped by participants during the duration of the programme. About 94 per cent of competitors responding to the closing survey stated that the competition improved their lives, while around 91 per cent said that they are either very satisfied or satisfied with the competition. Government entities participating in the competition expressed their satisfaction and gratitude and noted that the competition changed the working environment in their organization.

Majid Al Futtaim - Retail scooped the Daman Award for Corporate Health and Wellness Award for Organisation, while Dubai Islamic Bank won the Daman Award for Biggest Impact.

One of evening’s biggest winners was the American Centre for Psychiatry and Neurology, which received double honours in the Communications Campaign of the Year and Corporate Wellness Partner of the Year categories.

Other winners include telecoms giant du, which received the Health & Safety Initiative of the Year award; as well as Mashreq, which won the CSR Employee Engagement of the Year trophy.

Meanwhile the Corporate Happiness Award for the Private Sector was given to Tristar Transport; while the Public Sector winner was the Department of Culture & Tourism Abu Dhabi, whose Lead for People Performance and Projects, Tanya Lush, was recognised as the Corporate Wellness Leader of the Year.

“In choosing this year’s winners, we looked at how corporate and individual efforts are empowering employees through creative and high-impact programmes that boost employee well-being, knowing that a happy, inspired and well-developed workforce ultimately drive long-term competitiveness and business success,” said John Emmerson, events director, Meed, a leading business intelligence provider in the Middle East and organisers of Daman Corporate Health Awards. – TradeArabia News Service