DUBAI Holding and Unilever Gulf FZE won two awards apiece to lead all winners at the recently concluded Daman Corporate Health Awards, the UAE's first recognition program honoring wellness initiatives in the workplace. Dubai Holding received the Daman Award for Corporate Health and Wellness (Organization) Award and the Corporate Wellness Team of the Year Award. In line with the government's vision for a healthier and more active nation, Dubai Holding has worked hard to cultivate a healthier Dubai by developing and implementing a comprehensive wellness program in the workplace that incorporates not only physical activity, health, nutrition; but also awareness and knowledge about the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle. Over the years, it has continually increased the level of employee participation in its wellness activities and assessments, reduced level of absenteeism, and improved cost efficiencies of its medical spend per active employee. Unilever Gulf FZE, meanwhile, triumphed in the CSR Employee Engagement of the Year as well as Health & Safety Initiative of the Year categories. Among its many laudable workplace programs include ‘Agile Working', a policy that allows employees to work flexibly – as long as the needs of the business are being met. It creates work-life balance while increasing productivity and job satisfaction. More than 75 per cent of employees have used the agile working policy; and more than 90% of women use it once a month. "Congratulations to these two organizations as to all the winners for championing the cause of workplace wellness. It is no surprise that our winners are also known leaders in their respective business categories – they see the value that wellness programs have not only in improving employee wellbeing and productivity, but also in ensuring corporate health overall. May their continuing success show the way for others to follow. Hopefully, the snowball effect will lead to more productivity among UAE employees, and translate to better performance for the corporate sector, and the economy of the Emirates as a whole, in the years to come," said Dr. Michael Bitzer, CEO, National Health Insurance Company-Daman. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC won the Daman Award for Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative Award for its Pink Month initiative, which has grown from an initial donation to a flagship programme, supporting breast cancer, via multiple support platforms, such as direct donations, facilitating community donations (through ATMs and internet banking); ADCB Tree of Hope, a series of community fundraising events; sponsoring ADCB's Pink Polo at Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club; staff awareness seminars focusing on lifestyle as preventative measures; early detection and healthy lunch incorporating cancer-preventing nutrition, as well as a partnership with Al Jalila Foundation for a more insightful look at breast cancer through research.
