(MENAFN - Arab News) Improving employees' satisfaction, the development of their skills and enhancing work motivation are not usually an integral part of being employed in the Kingdom.
Many employees feel unrecognized or insufficiently acknowledged by the companies they work for in Saudi Arabia.
HR Recruiter Saber Mohammed said, "Many employees are well motivated. They want to provide quality service and work at their level best to get their jobs done. Due to the lack of support and encouragement of their employers, ultimately they turn less productive."
Talented individuals in the Kingdom want to work for organizations that know the value of recognizing their efforts and accomplishments.
Mohammed Tahir, an accountant, lamented, "I have been at this post for several years. I need appreciation and my manager is not doing his best to provide it. I am deluged with work and end up staying in the office until late each day. I like my job despite this situation and I think things will change for the better eventually. But waiting for that time to come is very difficult here."
Syed Anwar, a media analyst, said, "I came to work in Jeddah 10 years ago from India. I changed jobs twice during my career. Though my current job is satisfying, the compensation is lacking. Apart from my lump sum salary, I haven't seen any promotion or bonus."
Employees should be compensated from time to time as a way of showing appreciation for their hard work, effectiveness and productivity. Companies in Saudi Arabia often fail to recognize or appraise employees. This can have a negative effect on their motivation and decrease productivity.
"Many organizations are so caught up in running the business that they often forget about their valued employees," complains Saif, a graphic designer.
He added that employees should not be taken for granted, or they will find it hard to get satisfied in their jobs.
Sadia, a social worker said it was depressing when her efforts went without praise or reward. She said, "Such a disheartening situation makes a person less motivated and lose their strengths and values. This state of mind may make employees want to leave the job."
Sara Khan, a graduate engineer who started her career a year ago, said, "I exerted all my efforts into my job. As the year progressed, I noticed I became less active and the job started to pressurize me. I have little confidence in what I do. The absence of support and acknowledgment has affected me emotionally. Now I go to work just for the sake of my monthly salary. My enthusiasm and attachment to the job have decreased," she added.
A recent survey by Arab News shows that a lot needs to be done to boost the morale of the Kingdom's work force. Employment related stress and money weigh on the minds of employees more than their global peers. As a result, companies run the risk of low employee productivity and financial performance.
Ahmed Yousef, CEO of Marketing Service Group, recommended all business leaders to ask their staff for their ideas and opinions before they take their decisions.
"If employees feel unvalued or unsupported by their leaders, it is definitely going to lead to poor performance, job exhaustion. Ultimately this will reflect on the turnover," he said.
Employees love having their efforts acknowledged by the entire organization and have their assistance publicized on how their contribution enhanced business operations. Celebrating and acknowledging employees' efforts and contributions are lacking in the Kingdom.
Saad Saleh, a retired engineer, said, "After 25 years of service, I don't feel I have been a part of making the organization a better place to work."
Organizations and companies in Saudi Arabia employ workforce consisting of individuals from different cultures. They can be an untapped resource if they are not given the opportunity to share their talents.
"Recognizing employees' efforts is more important than ever for an organization to remain competitive and find means to outshine rivals in their industry," said Abu Bakr of a consulting firm.
