As the Gulf region positions itself as a global hub for finance, technology and innovation, businesses face a crucial question: how to attract and retain the talent these knowledge economies require. The answer may lie in how organisations approach employee well-being.
This instinct to deprioritise well-being in favour of cost savings is understandable. Even Silicon Valley giants like Google and Meta, once celebrated for extensive wellness programmes, are now scaling back. According to Wellable's 2025 Employee Wellness Industry Trends Report, more organisations are reducing their investment in wellness programmes, from 6 per cent of companies surveyed in 2023 to 14 per cent in 2024.
But this retreat is risky. Neglecting employee welfare undermines not only individual well-being but also organisational resilience and long-term performance.
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