Better recreation facilities at place of work in Oman can help retain staff: Minister

Muscat: Recreational facilities, gym membership and a good health insurance cover are likely to improve the work environment in Oman, industry experts have said.
Making a case for the introduction of entertainment facilities in industrial areas such as the Rusayl Industrial Estate, Dr. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and Industry, emphasised that it was one way companies could lure or retain Omani talent.
“There is a need to revisit the working environment in Omani companies. It is time for major institutions to develop entertainment and recreational facilities in places such as the Rusayl Industrial Estate. When I visit these places, I am not happy with some things I see there. Although I understand it is old and not designed as per the latest standards, I think it is high time we improved the working environment of workers in our factories. This is also a great way to attract Omani talent to join the industry,” he said.
He added that he would be happy to see cricket and football pitches,either run by companies themselves or rented for their employees,become a norm in Omani firms.
Benefits, including access to recreational facilities as part of package, still remain something rare in small to mid-sized companies in Oman.
These are only offered by organisations that have a staff strength in thousands.
Several survey findings show that employees consider recreational facilities as one of the most important factors when accepting a job offer. It is also a major reason for people to prefer large firms over SMEs.
“I believe companies need to see the value in providing such facilities to employees. Happy employee equals happy customers,” said Paul Callaghan, a partner at KPMG in Oman.
“There has been a huge improvement over the past decades in the way the work environment has evolved.
“Companies are realising its importance but we need to do more to reach the ideal point. Historically, there has been less emphasis on entertainment and recreational facilities but I believe companies need to start providing gym memberships and good health insurance packages,” he explained.
He added that such facilities could help attract young talented Omanis with great promise.
Although Dr. Sunaidy stated that the ministry does not have any concrete plans as yet for this since it does not want to force companies by bringing in new regulations when times are already challenging, he said the ministry will be working on such regulations in the future to ensure a healthy work environment.
According to a recent report by the World Health Organisation, 68 per cent of all disease related deaths were on account of lifestyle diseases.
“It is a major concern for people who work. They are so busy at work that they don’t care about (the need to) exercise and (undertake) other healthy activities. I think such benefits will encourage companies to become more attractive to individuals and promote a much healthier lifestyle in the country. I really look forward to see some regulation of this sort,” a doctor at a leading private hospital said.