Burgan Bank selected as a ‘Great Place to Work 2023’
KUWAIT CITY, March 21: Burgan Bank announced that it has been selected in the list of 20 Best Workplaces in Kuwait 2023 as well as being officially certified as a Great Place to Work®, a recognition that cements the Bank’s dedication to the development of its human capital by ranking it amongst the most exemplary workplaces worldwide and listing it as the first bank in Kuwait to be awarded and certified. The awards to Burgan Bank followed an independent analysis that was conducted by Great Place to Work® Middle East, based on feedback from Burgan staff, provided as part of an extensive and anonymous survey about the Bank’s workplace experience.
As suggested by its slogan, Driven by You, Burgan Bank continues to place its community’s welfare – starting with the staff – at the heart of its every decision. This is also reflected in the Bank’s values of trust, commitment, progression, and excellence, which in turn define every interaction that transpires among peers or with clients. Together, these values and the commitment to embodying them without faltering have turned the Burgan experience into an uplifting one whereby colleagues, across departments and job grades, come together as a community to support one another on their journeys of success.
Commenting on the Bank’s certification as a Great Place to Work®, Ms. Halah El-Sherbini, Group Chief Human Resources and Development Officer at Burgan Bank said: “It is an honor to be recognized by an esteemed global authority on workplace culture like Great Place to Work®, especially as we are the first Bank in Kuwait to achieve this coveted certification. But the real source of pride and delight remains knowing that we can empower our employees through the positive work environment that we strive to maintain.”
Support
“This certificate is truly a celebration of the interdepartmental support system that we witness every day transpiring across all departments of the Bank. This includes our people working to empower each other, with the more seasoned and experience of our employees actively spreading their knowledge to their peers, broadening their horizons, enhancing their skills and in turn bolstering our overall performance as a team,” El-Sherbini added. “Beyond professional knowledge, it delights us to see our inclusive and supportive culture spread the same way, from established employees to new hires.”
In addition, El-Sherbini underscored the importance of the open-door policy applied throughout the institution, as well as the valuable role of dedicated business partners who are always present for all employees to answer their business inquiries and fulfill their different needs. Moreover, this system means that the staff’s capabilities and progress are constantly monitored while keeping the institution’s human resources and talent management abreast of the latest market trends and transformations.
El-Sherbini concluded her statement by adding: “The Burgan culture will continue to focus on our employees’ wellbeing and their journey of wellness, which we collectively embarked on starting in 2020. It continues to involve a growing number of employees with more focus on women empowerment and environmental contributions.”
Development
On her part, Ms. Ghada El-Kadi, Unit Head of the Learning and Talent Development Unit at Burgan Bank, pointed to Burgan’s market-leading approach to staff personal and professional development. She said: “We pride ourselves on offering our most promising employees some of the most valuable talent programs in the market, allowing them to advance in their careers through dedicated training and mentorship programs. This includes our Ro2ya Program, which allows our most aspiring talents to gain experience in the different banking practices offered at Burgan, paving the path for their development as holistic bankers – and in doing so broadening their scope of career opportunities and professional success.”
El-Kadi further noted that Burgan Bank’s support of its staff takes multiple forms, including the Burgan Cares Program that was launched in 2022 to support its diploma holder and high school committed talents in their pursuits for completing their undergraduate studies and earning a Bachelor’s degree, launching them towards bigger dreams and better opportunities.
Attesting to the positivity of Burgan Bank’s work environment is its success in achieving the second lowest voluntary turnover ratio in the market. El-Kadi pointed out that this is thanks to the warmth and inclusivity of the Bank’s atmosphere which keeps employees looking forward to their time with their supportive peers.
Burgan Bank earned the certification after participating in the Great Place to Work® Middle East Trust Index™ survey that assessed employee perceptions of credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie. Trust Index Survey consist of 59 statements covering the employee’s experience on all levels ( Financial, innovation, human potential, values, and leadership). This certification is based on direct and anonymous feedback from employees about the workplace experience. The survey found that the majority of Burgan employees voted the bank as a Great Place to Work, illustrating the bank’s focus on establishing a great work environment where employees trust the place they work for.
Great Place to Work® (www.greatplacetowork.me) is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through proprietary assessment tools, advisory services, and certification programs, Great Place to Work® recognizes the Best Workplaces™ across the world. The certified companies are listed by geographic location, including those published by Fortune magazine and leading media across the Middle East. Great Place to Work® provides the benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures.