Omnicom Media Group Mena, the holding of communications planning networks OMD and PHD, has been recognised as a top employer in the UAE for 2012 by a global research, consulting and training firm.

Omnicom was ranked sixth by the Great Place to Work Institute.

It is the only communications holding company to appear in the global research and management consultancy’s ranking of the country’s 10 best employers. The list is based on the confidential feedback of employees and an audit of management practices.

To pick the “Top Companies to Work for in the UAE”, the Great Place to Work Institutes conducts an evaluation of each participating company. Two-thirds of the company’s score is based on the results of the Institute’s Trust Index survey, which is sent to the employees from each company.

The survey asks questions related to their attitudes about the management’s credibility, employee engagement and job satisfaction. The other third of the scoring is based on the company’s responses to the Institute’s Culture Audit, which includes detailed questions about pay and benefits programs and a series of open-ended questions about hiring, communication, and development.

The Institute identified Omnicom Media Group Mena’s focus on creating a tailored, flexible and supportive working environment, notably through its HR roadshows and its approach towards women, as best in class.

Besides being in the top 10, the holding group was also highlighted as one of the best places to work for women in the UAE.

“In our business, our people truly make the difference so we have long established that the happiness of our teams at work is a key KPI and success factor,” said Elie Khouri, CEO of Omnicom Media Group Mena.

“Having our processes, policies and performance as an employer independently validated and ranked highly is a massive endorsement of the work we’ve produced collectively over the years.”

“More than just the recognition and the differentiation we get out of this exercise, we now also have a benchmark to work with,” added Tamela Scotcher, group talent director at Omnicom Media Group Mena.

“Not only do we have an independent assessment of what we do well and what we can improve on, we also know where we stand across all industries in the country. After years of focus on this, it feels like a new beginning.”

Dr Farrukh Kidwai, CEO of Great Place to Work Institute UAE, said: “We would firstly like to thank everybody who participated in the program and congratulate each of the 10 companies that have been recognized as top companies to work for in the UAE.”

“Our top companies programme measures the strength of an employer’s brand. By evaluating levels of credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie between employees and their managers, their jobs and their colleagues, we are able to help organizations improve their productivity and profitability.” – TradeArabia News Service