B
y Bonnie James
Ibrahim Badredeen giving a presentation and Amer Zureikat making a point
“Employees should be paid enough to take the issue of money off the table,” employers were urged at a round table event on ‘Salary Trends 2011’ organised yesterday by the region’s leading job site Bayt.com
The suggestion was given by Bayt.com Qatar unit manager Ibrahim Badredeen, who gave a presentation on ‘Salaries: Are they the only retention factor?
“Managements only think about pay when someone resigns. Pay should be an ongoing process,” he said.
Badredeen highlighted the fact that 28% of the respondents, of a salary survey conducted by Bayt.com this year, cited salary as the single most important factor, followed by 19% (growth), relationships (17%), job nature, and training and culture (7% each).
“Recognition is the most basic motivator, and compensation is a balance between what the company can afford to pay and what the employee deserves,” he observed.
Employees should also be given chances to work on development projects that captivate their interest.
In a poll about how better working conditions affect employees, 60% listed more loyalty, productivity and job involvement.
Referring to Qatar, Bayt.com’s vice-president – sales, Amer Zureikat, said 78% of professionals are satisfied with their job responsibilities, 53% are satisfied with the job security in their company, 66% are satisfied with their current salaries, 56% are satisfied with the work recognition they receive.
“Over 70% of jobs in Qatar are filled on Bayt.com without ever being advertised, employers search instead,” he claimed. Bayt.com product manager Mohamed Younas spoke on salary benchmarking.