Forum will examine how businesses can foster healthier work environments while maintaining performance.
Employee well-being is increasingly becoming a business priority as organisations face challenges such as burnout, digital fatigue, talent retention and evolving employee expectations. The way companies shape employees’ day-to-day working experience can have a direct impact on productivity, engagement and overall performance.
Work Reimagined UAE, a forum organised by InsuranceMarket.ae in association with Gulf News, will bring business leaders and HR professionals together on November 18 to examine how organisations can foster healthier workplace cultures while maintaining employee performance.
The November 18 event is the third instalment in a four-part Work Reimagined UAE series, which explores key issues influencing the future of work, including human resources, workplace culture, leadership and employee experience. This edition will focus on employee well-being and its contribution to healthier, more productive workplaces.
For Avinash Babur, Founder and Chairman of Alfred Holdings, the first step is to recognise that employee well-being is a business priority rather than simply an HR initiative.
“Organisations need to move beyond occasional wellness programmes and create an environment where people feel valued, supported and empowered to perform at their best,” he says.
Leadership, he adds, plays a crucial role in creating such an environment. “When leaders genuinely care about their people, encourage open communication, recognise contributions and create opportunities for growth, well-being becomes part of the organisation’s everyday culture.”
The relationship between employee well-being and business performance will also be an important focus. “Well-being and performance are not competing priorities. They reinforce each other. Employees who feel supported are more likely to be engaged, productive and committed to the organisation’s long-term success,” Babur says.
He also highlights the importance of measuring results rather than relying on good intentions.
“Organisations should consistently evaluate employee feedback, engagement levels, absenteeism, retention and productivity to understand what is working and where improvements are needed,” Babur says.
“Ultimately, the strongest workplace cultures are built when organisations invest in their people with the same discipline and long-term thinking they apply to business growth.”
Well-being across the employee journey
The discussions will examine how companies can embed well-being throughout the employee journey. Panellists will look at how HR teams and managers can identify early signs of stress and disengagement, address pressure points during onboarding and professional development, and approach performance reviews and employee exits with greater consideration.
Digital overload and its effect on concentration and productivity will also feature on the agenda. With constant messages, consecutive meetings and multiple digital platforms competing for attention, panellists will discuss how employees can protect time for focused work, minimise unnecessary distractions and make space for recovery.
The forum will also explore the benefits of measuring performance based on outcomes rather than the number of hours employees spend online. Panellists will share practical ways to develop healthier working routines that help sustain productivity while supporting organisational objectives.
Event details
- What: Work Reimagined UAE
- When: November 18, 2026
- Where: InsuranceMarket.ae headquarters, 27th Floor, Control Tower, Dubai
