Ooredoo Group Extends Working from Home until End of Year, Supports a More Agile Operational Culture
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In a pilot initiative aiming to adopt and support a more agile digital culture, Ooredoo Group has extended its Work-From-Home procedures, allowing employees whose work doesn’t require them to physically be in the office to continue working remotely until the end of 2020
The company is one of the first in the region to make such a decision, paving the way to an innovative working environment that could reshape the contemporary workplace.
Ooredoo Group employees and contractors will have the option to agree more flexible working arrangements from home or the office, subject to individual agreement and at management discretion. As for the Group’s operating companies around the world, each will have the flexibility to test more localized working arrangements in a way that works best for them and in line with the regulations and directions of the countries in which they operate.
Based on key lessons learned in the recent period, the Group management team believes that this “experiment” will foster the creation of more agile and modern work culture. As a leader in technology and telecommunications, the Group aims to leverage the insights of the recent period into a competitive advantage.
Sheikh Saud Bin Nasser Al Thani, Group Chief Executive Officer, Ooredoo, said: “Amid the COVID-19 situation, we are presented with a real opportunity for taking our digital transformation journey to a whole new level, which will see our company leverage digital solutions to ultimately adopt a more holistic digital culture. This will transform the organization and how we work. If colleagues found the combination of working off-site and socially distancing a challenge at first, we have emerged from this disruption empowered, able to get things done as a team – even when not sharing the same physical space, and even more dynamic. I’m both very excited and optimistic about the coming period.”
“Based on key lessons learned in the recent period, the Group management team believes that this “experiment” will foster the creation of more agile and modern work culture.”
Ooredoo Group has led the way among regional tech companies by providing a supportive environment for colleagues working from home. As business returns to normal, these new workplace relationships can be repurposed to strengthen the enterprise in its ability to meet the needs of its customers and the societies they live in.
While the company will seek to incorporate and build upon the potential for improved work practices discerned in recent months, it will continue to operate within official public health guidelines, against a backdrop of rigorous emergency and business continuity planning. This will allow for changes of direction should the medical situation change.
“All this requires commitment, responsibility, and accountability — but given the positive experience of the past few months, I’m convinced that together we can further transform the Ooredoo culture,” reflected Sheikh Saud Bin Nasser Al Thani.
Enforced changes saw hundreds of staff members working from home since March — an unprecedented scenario that can now be built upon leading to a positive outcome. Ooredoo is now testing these exciting new ways of working going forward, amid the economic and medical uncertainties accompanying the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
Questions & Answers
Q.Is working from home now mandatory for all Ooredoo Group employees?
Is working from home now mandatory for all Ooredoo Group employees?
No, working from home is an option for employees whose roles do not require a physical presence. Flexible arrangements are subject to individual agreement and management discretion, not a blanket mandate across the company.
Q.How will this work from home initiative affect Ooredoo's operating companies outside of the main Group?
How will this work from home initiative affect Ooredoo's operating companies outside of the main Group?
Each operating company around the world will have the flexibility to test their own localised working arrangements. These arrangements must align with the regulations and directions of the countries where they operate.
Q.What is the primary goal of extending work from home, according to Ooredoo's management?
What is the primary goal of extending work from home, according to Ooredoo's management?
The Group management team believes this initiative, described as an 'experiment,' will foster a more agile and modern work culture. They aim to use recent insights into a competitive advantage.
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