Global research, training and consultancy firm, Great Place to Work Middle East (GPTW) has recognized Cisco as the frontrunner in its ‘Best Workplaces in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2021’ rankings – moving from second to first position this year. GPTW cites Cisco as having gone the extra mile to ensure employee wellbeing and satisfaction remained top of mind during challenging times.
Employees were asked to rate how well their organization has cared for its workforce in times of crisis, alongside the degree of trust to work remotely. Respondents also evaluated their own physical, emotional and financial health – giving a clear understanding of workplace culture and satisfaction. Cisco scored particularly high across a number of domains, with employees proud to tell others where they work and feeling well-respected by their peers.
As the pandemic took hold, Cisco Saudi Arabia recognized the importance of digitization in ensuring that employee safety and business continuity could be maintained. GPTW notes that Cisco’s smart workplace technology and collaboration platform, Webex were key differentiators. In addition to keeping employees productive and aligned, Webex has also served as an important tool for supporting employee wellbeing, through the hosting of virtual meetings, trainings and networking opportunities, as well as one-on-one coffee catch-ups with managers.
As part of the assessment, GPTW also conducted an audit of management practices and ‘bold acts of leadership’ organizations have taken in response to COVID-19 – benefitting employees, the business and wider community alike. GPTW commends Cisco’s technology for also ‘ensuring the safety and wellbeing of frontline workers’. The company’s collaboration software has proved to be a critical lifeline for industries such as healthcare and education.
Cisco believes in powering an inclusive future for all. Central to achieving this, is the creation of an environment where employees of all backgrounds have the opportunity to learn and thrive. This is known as Cisco’s ‘Conscious Culture’ – a philosophy which encourages employees to be self-aware, value each other’s differences and challenge the status quo. To drive this agenda, Cisco holds regular workshops and events, advancing conversations and opening up new opportunities related to diversity and inclusion.
Commenting on the achievement, Salman Abdulghani Faqeeh, Managing Director, Cisco Saudi Arabia said: “It fills me with immense pride to know that we have not only built a great workplace culture, but that we also remain humble and continue to improve it. It is an honor to be recognized by Great Place to Work Middle East once again, this time climbing up to first position. Like all businesses, we were presented with number of new challenges – but as a family, we tackled them together. I would like to thank everyone at Cisco Saudi Arabia for their support and determination over the past year – may we continue to inspire one another and create positive impact in the Kingdom.”
