Bayt.com and YouGov investigate the key factors behind employee loyalty in new survey

Cairo – August 1, 2024: In the latest Employee Loyalty in the MENA survey by Bayt.com and YouGov, only 29 percent of Egyptian respondents reported feeling that they feel “very loyal” to their workplace, so how can employers improve this ratio?

“Understanding and nurturing employee loyalty is critical in navigating the dynamic landscapes of the MENA workforce. Our survey reveals a powerful correlation between trust in leadership and employee allegiance,” Ola Haddad, General Manager at Bayt.com said.

Bayt.com and YouGov investigated the driving factors contributing to employees’ loyalty to their organizations in its survey, identifying actions that could enhance loyalty and recognizing the elements that could potentially undermine it.

Most MENA survey participants, amounting to 55 percent, report having been with their current companies for a tenure extending beyond four years, according to the results seen by ET. This stability is paralleled by workplace satisfaction, as nearly three out of five employees indicate satisfaction with their current employers.

Results depicted that 33 percent of current employees categorize themselves as “very loyal” to their organizations, with an additional 23 percent feeling “somewhat loyal.”

Egyptian responses to the biggest factors impacting employee loyalty were led by basic salary – 56 percent placed it as the number 1 factor – followed by additional benefits by the company (36 percent), and Employee – job fit (35 percent).

To boost loyalty among staff, employers have been advised by Egyptian respondents to focus on rewarding and recognizing employees’ work (61 percent), do regular check-ins to discuss pain points by 55 percent, and create growth opportunities for the employees by 53 percent.

Employers looking to avoid damaging employee loyalty were recommended to not consistently disregard employee suggestions by 62 percent of Egyptian respondents, with 54 percent agreeing on both a lack of open communication with direct managers and unequal distribution of work/heavy workload at all times as detrimental to team loyalty.

This was in line with regional results - neglecting employee suggestions could significantly damage employee dedication, as indicated by 56 percent of respondents, heavy workloads or unequal distribution of responsibilities (54 percent), and lack of open communication between employees and their direct managers (51 percent).

Zafar Shah, Account Director at YouGov said “This year’s findings underscore the complex interplay between job security, satisfaction, and loyalty within the MENA region. As the data suggests, employees who feel valued through fair compensation, job fit, and career opportunities are more inclined to feel more engaged in their workplace and speak about their companies' products and services passionately. It is this sense of belonging and purpose that distinguishes highly loyal employees from the rest”.

Bayt and YouGov sampled answers from 862 respondents from countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Sudan.