The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) has recently held a series of workshops attended by nearly 150 directors and officials of human resource departments in the ministries and federal entities, in order to introduce them to the Emirates Human Resource Award in the federal government, which is considered one of the strategic initiatives of FAHR, and the first of its kind at the regional level. The Award was launched by FAHR in the second quarter of 2014 under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
In this regard, Laila Al Suwaidi, Director of Performance Appraisal and Follow-Up, Acting Director of Strategic Planning and Organizational Excellence, stressed that the training workshop, which was held at the headquarters of FAHR in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, aims to introduce participants to the idea of the Emirates HR Award in the federal government, including its objectives and participation requirements. She noted that the launch of the award comes as an embodiment of the prudent vision of the UAE’s leadership, led by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, and his brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
She explained that FAHR seeks through the launch of this award to keep up with the great strides made by the UAE in various fields and levels, as well as consolidate the principles of leadership, competitiveness and rewarding achievement in the federal government, towards realizing the UAE Vision 2021, the UAE National Agenda, and HR strategy in the federal government.
Laila Al Suwaidi said, “The Emirates HR Award will be organized on an annual basis to represent one of recognition best practices at the national level in the field of government human resources, as it constitutes an important incentive for HR departments in the Federal Government institutions, in order to achieve higher levels of performance and reward, and encourage employees to work at their full potential, in a competitive atmosphere, which would reward innovation, maintain national talent, support creative ideas and allow exchange of successful experiences and practices.
“The award is an important addition to many vital initiatives that promote and reward achievement within a motivating work environment, which keeps pace with the dynamics of the State and its rapid progress in the race towards competitiveness and global leadership. It is a catalyst for creativity and an effective tool to recognize the achievements of human resources departments and individuals in the federal government authorities, based on the Balanced Scorecard”
Director of Performance Appraisal and Follow-Up, Acting Director of Strategic Planning and Organizational Excellence, explained that the Award is a perfect opportunity to highlight the successful human resource initiatives at the level of federal government entities, reflect the vital role of the ministries and federal bodies in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of their human capital, as well as shed light on the best practices adopted globally in the field of human resources management. In addition, it will help create a motivating work environment conducive to attract skilled workforce and retain existing talent, and promote the concept of outstanding human resource management in order to encourage the federal government institutions to introduce effective methods of increasing their productivity.
She explained that the Award is divided into two categories; the first targets honoring distinguished federal entities according to four sub-categories: entities that are outstanding in motivation, empowerment, or level of service, and finally, winners on the overall performance, which includes all the previous sub-categories. The second category focuses on outstanding individuals, and this is divided into several sub-categories: outstanding leader, promising executive, and lifelong high achiever in the field of human resources.
Advantages of the Award
Al Suwaidi reviewed the most prominent features of the Award, which include highlighting the best practices supported by success stories, exploring the possibility of applying global best HR experiences and practices, making human resources a partner at work, as well as strengthening the role, professionalism and transparency of human resource departments, identifying the latest innovations in HR governance, and honoring individuals and federal entities with award shields and certificates of appreciation.
An Independent Arbitration Committee
She revealed that FAHR intends to form an independent arbitration committee from the private sector, semi-government and local authorities to deal with the files of Award participants. The committee will be responsible for interviewing and evaluating individual candidates according to preset criteria in order to identify the winners in each category, review assessment of federal entities prepared by the evaluation team, and determine the winners in each category according to approved mechanism, standards and schedules, before submission to the Award executive team.
“Following the recognition of federal entities and distinguished employees, FAHR will prepare and submit a report for each entity, indicating the strengths that must be maintained and areas for improvement which may contribute to enhancing the added value of human resources, according to the role and concept of human resource management” she said, adding that the last quarter of the current year will mark honoring the winners at the first round of the Emirates HR Award in the federal government.