The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) announced the closure nominations for the third edition of the UAE HR Award in the Federal Government, organized on an annual basis, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. FAHR revealed in a statement the start of evaluating 48 files under the category of ministries and federal entities, and 37 files under individual category.
HE Aisha Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of Human Resources Policies in the Authority explained that nominations of individual human resource pioneers for the third edition of the Award has been completed. Categories include: HR distinguished leader, HR champion), while the best practice category includes: disability friendly work environment, occupational health and safety in the work environment, workplace well-being, and knowledge. She added that FAHR will start studying the files of the 37 participating individuals in order to identify eligible competitors for interviews according to award criteria.
“The Award team is already engaged in collecting information on entities’ achievement reports for the final stage which involves field visits and assessment”, she said, adding that 17 ministries and federal entities participated in the first edition compared to 46, while 48 entities are expected to participate this year.
HE Aisha Al Suwaidi said: “The Award is one of the most effective recognition methods at the national level in the area of government human resources. It will act as an important motivation for human resource departments in the federal government institutions, and is expected to play a significant role in recognizing high-achievers, retaining national talent, rewarding creative ideas and initiatives, as well as assist in dissemination and exchange of successful experiences and practices”.
She conclude that the UAE HR Award in the Federal Government is an addition to many of strategic initiatives launched by FAHR, considering it as culmination of the achievements of federal entities and employees in the field of human resources in accordance with balanced scorecard performance measurement system, and an opportunity to highlight the best human resources practices locally and globally, to achieve higher levels of performance with respect to human capital management, in a positive work environment conducive of satisfaction and happiness.
Zayed Al Baadani, Director of Performance Appraisal & Follow-up at FAHR, said: "The Award consists three categories of winners among competing federal entities: the first recognizes the outstanding federal entities measured by four strategic themes according to balanced scorecard, which include operations, learning and growth, customer service and finance. The same category will feature honoring the distinguished federal entity in the field of human resources generally at the Federal Government level”.
With respect to the second and third categories, Al Baadani explained that the second category targets distinguished employees of ministries and federal entities and is subdivided into two categories: the outstanding leader in human resources, and human resources champion, while the third category honors the best practice in human resources at the level of ministries and federal authorities.
He said that all files of federal bodies participating in the Award are evaluated according to 28 criteria, including: Emiratization percentage, increase in the number of nationals, percentage of trainees and training hours, gender balance in leadership positions, comparison between support and basic jobs, percentage of technology use in HR procedures, job satisfaction, employee turnover rates, percentage of recognized employees as per rewards and incentive system, and number of work-related injuries.
Al Budani added: “Individuals participating in the Award are assessed based on several criteria including: knowledge of human resource programs and systems in the Federal Government, employee’s contribution in implementing HR systems and programs within their entity, outstanding achievements of the employee within the entity, in addition to effective and creative suggestions provided by the employee within his entity or at the Federal Government level, which contribute to the development of human resource policies in the Federal Government.”
The Director of Performance Appraisal & Follow-Up explained that the third edition of the Award in the Federal Government will also see the introduction of a range of new practices that will be used to evaluate ministries and federal entities involved in their different categories namely: disabilities-friendly work environment, occupational health and safety, well-being at work, reading and knowledge. He said that some standards for nomination to Distinguished Human Resource Leader have been amended to allow participation of government leaders outside HR departments in the ministries and federal entities in this category.
“FAHR has also introduced some changes in the process of evaluating the files of entities and individuals participating in the third edition of the Award. The file will undergo preliminary assessment by a team from FAHR in the middle of 2017, followed by providing feedback to entities and individuals involved in the Award on their files, in order to help them develop those files in preparation for the final stage of evaluation by external moderators”, he noted.
The team will also organize evaluation of will undergo preliminary assessment by a team from FAHR in the middle of the year, followed by providing feedback to entities and individuals involved in the Award on their files, in order to help them develop those files in preparation for the final stage of the evaluation by external moderators”.
Best practices will also be evaluated by specialized assessors according to different categories, and all those nominated to this categories will give presentations on their unique and outstanding practices before the being selected for field visits. Also, each participant in this category will receive a report from specialists in the field, containing recommendations and proposals for the development of practices by in this field.
He explained that FAHR is introducing the Award to recognize achievements of the ministries and federal entities with leading roles in empowering and motivating their employees, and are committed to implementing human resources legislation in the Federal Government. As well as regulations to promote the unique position of the United Arab Emirates as a global center of excellence in the field of human resource development.