Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) | DEWA adopts an integrated strategy for employee happiness

The establishment of a culture of happiness and positivity among stakeholders is one of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)’s strategic objectives, and a key component of its mission and corporate values. In all of these values, employee happiness comes first. DEWA’s senior management believes that having a happy and positive employee ensures the happiness of all those dealing with the employee. DEWA has worked to promote employee happiness and thus, raise the level of loyalty and belonging and enhance their productivity, and establish positivity as a fundamental value in the community. This supports our leadership’s vision to make Dubai the happiest city in the world.

“DEWA places employee happiness within its strategic priorities. We learned from HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, that employee happiness is essential to achieve community happiness.  DEWA has therefore launched the Employment happiness programmes, in line with its corporate strategy aimed at creating a happier and more positive work environment. DEWA also works to launch initiatives and programmes aimed at providing an encouraging work environment. According to the Employee Happiness Survey, DEWA recorded a happiness index of 83.22% in 2017, compared to 81.15% in 2016,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

An accurate approach to measure happiness

Al Tayer highlighted that the employee happiness index is measured according to a mechanism established by DEWA. It depends on planning, supervising, and implementing the index in accordance with a specific methodology that takes into consideration the principles and requirements of stakeholder surveys in cooperation with the Employee Happiness Department. The study measures employees' happiness in various aspects of DEWA’s work, while allowing them the opportunity to express their views and suggestions on topics of interest to them. The results of the study are also used to develop new programmes and initiatives to enhance employee happiness.

“We are keen to invest in our human resources, and to provide programmes and training courses in work, positivity, creativity, and innovation, based on our belief that our human capabilities are the most important element in achieving success and continuous excellence. This helps us in keeping abreast of developments and rapid changes, and launching pioneering projects and initiatives, based on a clear and integrated approach focused on innovation, early exploration of opportunities and challenges, analysis, and long-term proactive plans. This allows us to reach the future government, and keep pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” added Al Tayer.

Internal Excellence Award

“DEWA adopts a clear strategy to establish a culture of success and excellence among its employees. We continuously encourage and motivate employees by honouring those who excel and highlight their creativity, innovations, and contributions to develop and improve organisational performance. DEWA has developed the Internal Excellence Award to enhance all its performance, improve its service quality, and promote a culture of excellence and encourage positive competitiveness among staff. DEWA’s Internal Award is based on the Dubai Government Excellence Program (DGEP) and Hamdan bin Mohammed Award for Smart Government criteria. These were customised to meet the needs and directions of DEWA’s leadership, to enhance a competitive and positive environment, develop individual and collective performance to sustain excellence across all its operations,” continued Al Tayer.

Afkari platform

Al Tayer stressed that DEWA attaches great importance to engaging its employees in all its initiatives and projects, and is keen to listen to and study ideas and proposals from employees, and apply innovative and constructive ideas. As His Highness once observed, “Thinking collectively and having open dialogues with the team at work create new ideas and brings us closer to success.” DEWA’s Afkari   platform receives and evaluates innovative ideas from employees, promotes creativity and innovation, enhances communication between employees, and puts their suggestions and ideas into focus. It allows employees to collaborate and vote on the best ideas proposed, similar to social media.

Smart office

DEWA focuses on the latest solutions and smart applications, which provide integrated services and contribute to increasing efficiency and smooth work procedures and requirements, to make Dubai the first globally in ease of doing business as well as a preferred investment destination. The Smart Office app which was launched by DEWA for its employees in 2012, provides many services and benefits that enable them to complete tasks with ease and efficiency. DEWA is always keen to add and modernise services to suit the needs of employees and to keep up with the changes that occur at work. The Smart Office app includes many features that enhance the employees’ overall experience and efficiency with daily tasks. Employees can get various internal approval procedures regarding purchases, price comparisons, and orders, assuring non-stop development of ongoing projects. Employees can also register their attendance using GPS, and receive task lists related to smart meters, from any work location. The app allocates jobs to staff according to their location and updates them on work progress. The app also provides risk assessment services identify key and potential risks to DEWA. The Smart Meter Installation Service can receive any information related to DEWA’s smart meters, and a list of the jobs that each employee should perform. The app also includes Afkari, which receives employees’ innovative ideas and Waffer, which provides offers and exclusive discounts.

Employment happiness programmes

DEWA has an Employee Happiness department to enhance communication with staff through specific and effective channels, measure their satisfaction in different areas, and implementing improvement initiatives based on the results. The Department is working on several initiatives and programmes that help create a positive and motivating work environment at DEWA, such as:

Wesal: A communication tool between DEWA and their employees by sending text messages and emails to celebrate personal occasions, such as graduations, marriages, and new births.

Waffer programme: Waffer programme provides discounts on products and services from well-recognised shops, restaurants, hotels, travel agencies, etc. Employees can browse the offers through their emails, or by using the programme’s smart app or through DEWA’s internal portal (Freejna). The Waffer team also organises several events, including Waffer open day for selected companies to participate and advertise their products and services and present discounts and special offers. In addition, it also hosts the dnata travel exhibition, where airlines and hotels offer the latest and best offers to DEWA staff.

Barzatna Programme: This is an annual outdoor gathering, which is planned and organised on request by various departments and divisions. Such events create a positive work environment, promote solidarity and togetherness among staff, and also remind us all that we are one family at DEWA.

Estisharati: This is a DEWA Employee Assistance Programme that offers counselling to assist employees by providing an active problem-solving approach to live a happy, stress free and fulfilled life.

Al Khair Fund: Al Khair Fund launched on 7 October 2009. The main objective of the programme is to provide financial support to the participating employees whenever they have urgent or financial needs.

Child Care Centres: DEWA has 3 Child Care Centres to provide the necessary care for the children of DEWA’s employees during the working hours. This contributes to providing a positive work environment for DEWA staff.

DEWA also celebrates international and national events such as International Day of Happiness and UAE National Sports Day.

Happiness Majlis: DEWA has also established the Happiness Majlis at its main office. It includes the possibility of automatic booking of workshops, brainstorming sessions, and various events. It is equipped with all manner of comforts and amenities that promote optimism and positive energy, which are key elements for achievement and success.

Al Saada initiative: DEWA also launched the Al Saada (Arabic for ‘happiness’) initiative, to build smart fitness parks that turn people’s kinetic energy into electricity, using specially-designed equipment. Al Saada combines the concepts of sports and sustainability, both of which are important elements for achieving happiness.

Sports Activities: DEWA strives to raise the level of fitness and health of its staff through internal and external tournaments. DEWA organises internal tournaments, such as football, basketball, cricket etc.

Breathe and Relax: An initiative aimed at integrating employees into health training, to ease work pressure. They are trained to practice these exercises from time to time to maintain their health, and teach them to their loved ones.