Muscat: As a bank that focuses on the holistic wellbeing of its employees, Sohar International was recently awarded the ‘Best Employer Brand Award’ as well as the Award for ‘Managing Health at Work’ at the World HRD Congress – Oman Best Employer Brand Awards 2021 – a global body based out of India that has been recognizing and highlighting exemplary branding, human resources, and leadership regionally. 

Revered for recording superior levels of performance through all its operations, Sohar International believes investing in its staff and creating a conducive, positive and safe work environment is vital to its continued success. The bank conducts ongoing training programs and skill development workshops for its employees to ensure they remain proactive to any budding business needs and are well-equipped with the necessary competence to become leaders in their fields. The bank also invests heavily in technology , systems and processes to enable most efficient utilization and development of Omani talents especially focusing on local talents where the bank exceeds 90% Omanization encompassing key strategic roles and upskilling the youth and the future of this nation.

“As an organization that shares the national agenda of progress and prosperity, we take the welfare and development of our employees, our most precious assets, very seriously at all levels of our workforce. We are indeed delighted to receive such coveted accolades that put us at par with international organizations. While this award is a testament to the commitment demonstrated by the bank, it also highlights the bank’s corporate culture and its focus on leadership, health and safety standards, and employee welfare. Industry benchmarks and global recognitions like these are a testament to our efforts and various strategic initiatives,” said Mr. Ahmed Al Musalmi, Chief Executive Officer of Sohar International. 

With the pandemic posing several changes to the traditional workplace norms, Sohar International ensured that the safety of its employees was not compromised. In accordance with the directives of the Supreme Committee and complimenting the extensive efforts of the esteemed Government, the bank undertook an extensive vaccination drive to vaccinate all employees and extended this gesture to include their family members as well as strategic partners and customers. To provide a seamless and safe vaccination experience, the adoption of the vaccination has been encouraged through comprehensive communication campaigns targeted at employees to raise awareness about the drive. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Sohar International has implemented multiple layers of hygiene and safety measures to curb the spread of the virus. These include flexible working hours, remote working alternatives and the necessary support provided to employees in times of crisis.

“Sohar International is well-recognized for maintaining the highest levels of excellence. To deliver such exceptional performance, we rely on a team of motivated employees who have the zeal to go the extra mile. We believe that passion promotes the spirit of excellence and therefore ensure that our employees receive the necessary support, encouragement, and recognition at the workplace so they remain dedicated. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have reflected our ‘Human’ personality staying committed to our staff by adopting precautionary measures within our premises to ensure their health and well-being becoming positive players in the overall socio-economic development and progress of the nation”, Mr Ahmed Al Musalmi added.

Sohar International accords the highest value to acquiring the right people, providing them with an enabling and growth environment and retaining them by looking after their personal and self-actualization needs. Striking the right balance between serving its customers and ensuring the welfare of its employees, Sohar International has earned its name as an institution that exhibits the highest levels of corporate excellence and ethical business practices.