Working harder for the money

Working harder for the money

More than half of the region’s working professionals are taking on more responsibilities and being more productive as a result of the financial crisis, says Bayt.com.

June 3, 2009 9:15 by kippreport

Over 50 percent of the Middle East’s working professionals have changed their working behaviours or attitudes due to the financial crisis according to a survey conducted by bayt.com, a Dubai-based recruitment agency. The survey found that 32 percent of professionals have taken on more responsibilities, while 20 percent said their fears of being made redundant are prompting them to work harder at their jobs.

Meanwhile, 27 percent of respondents claim that work pressure remained stable throughout the crisis, and 16 percent say the crisis has de-motivated them, and are therefore less productive.

When asked if they would consider taking a job that pays less if they lose their current job, 55 percent answered yes. In a previous March to April survey, 55 percent of respondents said they would not accept a pay cut, even if they are made redundant.

“The recent poll, while shedding light on the prevailing attitudes and behaviors of the region’s job seekers, also highlights the changing attitudes of professionals in the region. In terms of salaries and if people are willing to work for less, what we are seeing is that generally, professionals are now more understanding of the job situation, and if faced with the option of a job that pays less or no job at all, the former is now more preferable,” said Amer Zureikat, regional manager of Bayt.com.

“What the results are pointing towards,” he added, “is the fact that working professionals are now seeking to ‘make the best of a bad situation’ during the economic crisis, as opposed to being blasé and unwilling to adapt to the pervasive, challenging conditions.”

Bayt.com’s online poll, titled ‘reactions to economic conditions’, surveyed 13,630 working professionals in the Middle East from April 28 to May 31.