When it comes to success indicators that companies look for, employee loyalty is among the most prominent, said a new survey, highlighting that nearly nine in 10 respondents believe that loyalty is tied to productivity.

More than three quarters (76.6 per cent) of respondents agree that their managers are interested in having loyal employees, added the poll titled ‘Employee Loyalty in the Middle East and North Africa’ by Bayt.com, a leading job site in the Middle East.

Moreover, respondents said that the top benefits of employee loyalty include higher efficiency (32.1 per cent), stronger team relationships (30.8 per cent), and higher employee satisfaction (25.3 per cent).

Employee loyalty in the Middle East

In the Middle East, high employee engagement and loyalty are consistent. More than nine in ten (91 per cent) respondents agree that they are highly engaged at work, with half (50.1 per cent) strongly agreeing. Further, more than three quarters (79.4 per cent) of poll takers say that they are very loyal or extremely loyal to their current company, and more than half (55.3 per cent) agree that they are satisfied with the company they work at.

According to the Bayt.com poll, employee loyalty means maintaining the company confidentiality even after resigning (33.3 per cent), being dedicated and abiding to the company’s values and rules (30.3 per cent),being proactive and invested in promoting the company’s vision (25.3 per cent) and staying with the company for many years (11.1 per cent).

What influences employee loyalty

When it comes to factors influencing employee loyalty, respondents cited salary (28 per cent), top management (19.1 per cent), compensation and benefits (19.2 per cent), team members (17.4 per cent), and direct managers (16.3 per cent).When asked specifically about office environments as a loyalty factor, the overwhelming majority (83.2 per cent) of respondents in the Mena said that it is important.

In order to increase employee loyalty, respondents said employers should treat all employees equally and fairly (22.4 per cent), reward employees for their achievements (21.9 per cent), and help them achieve work-life balance (18.1 per cent).Four in ten (40.6 per cent) respondents believe that for better employee loyalty, management should listen to and align employees’ goals with company goals, and another quarter (25.7 per cent) believe that management should help employees understand the company’s mission and values.

Conversely, according to respondents, what is likely to damage employee loyalty the most is a lack of promotions and career development (38.2 per cent) and low salaries (28.2 per cent), followed by unfair division of work and responsibilities (22.1 per cent) and biased or subjective feedback (11.6 per cent).

“Employers in the Middle East and North Africa should be well aware that granting opportunities for growth and advancement and truly listening to what matters to the employee are among the best ways to win their loyalty and support,” said Suhail Masri, vice president of Employer Solutions at Bayt.com.

“We are not simply talking about retention here. Employee loyalty is parallel to dedication, trustworthiness, and positive work ethics. Targeting loyalty plays a central role in furthering the success strategy of any organization or company, regardless of size and activity sector. At Bayt.com, we recommend and empower employers to utilize Bayt.com’s online learning portal for training and enhancing their employee’s potential,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service