Our mental concept of banks, bankers and banking is mostly of being traditional, unimaginative and boring. But the world has moved on, and while we want the banks of today to remain predictable, safe and risk- averse organizations—internally they now rely on the creative dynamic individuals who keep them performing, growing and achieving results. And it is the Human Resources department’s job to make sure that they hire the right people for the job and provide them with the support they need to do so. As a department, HR gets a lot of flak, but ABK has won the Naseba Employer of the Year award three years in a row, which is the kind of excellence that shows that the HR Department is doing something very right.
We met some of the amazing and vibrant people who work at ABK’s Human Resources department in a casual and friendly diwaniya. By implementing the best practices and latest technology, they have been able to change the bank’s collaborative culture, drive growth and promote a more positive and healthier environment for everyone at ABK. As they introduced themselves, we noticed that most of them had been with the bank for a long time, which shows a level of loyalty, commitment and content.
ABK prides itself on its four values; Transparency, Integrity, Simplicity and Excellence. Every policy and decision takes these values into account making ABK’s employees feel that they are part of the family. But even families argue and disagree, which is why the management has been working to ensure that the culture is one of solidarity and not blame. That is just one of the recent changes they have been implementing.
Ali Akbar joined ABK 11 years ago and has worked his way up to becoming the Assistant General Manager for Human Resources. He introduced us to one of the recent progressive changes; a move to a completely paperless department using a cloud- based system. Employees can remotely and securely log in from anywhere to manage their Self Services making a once tedious process into a quick, easy and seamless task. It frees up employee and the HR team alike, to focus on the tasks that are more integral to the bank’s goals and mission.
Employee engagement and relations are ver y important to the bank as Ghadeer Al Sarraf, Employee Relations Manager pointed out. Ghadeer, who joined ABK in 2009, has also been rapidly progressing through the ranks. Ensured, sustainable progress is a topic that came up several times in our diwaniya discussion, and to our surprise, is a common phenomenon at the bank. Merit is rewarded, priority for career growth and progression is always given to internal talent and the system is designed to support initiative and provide the tools for every employee to constantly grow and improve.
In order to measure the current culture shift initiative the HR team is using a software called EPIC, which sends daily surveys to participants. It helps track the company culture, mood and team performance. Being able to measure these markers gives policy makers the ability to change them and give management a daily insight on different behavioral dimensions .
It is a revolutionary way to monitor culture shifts and replace the more traditional assessment tools which are dauntingly time consuming and not always the best indicator, this system allows for real-time assessment from any individual you work with regardless of their position. It is also anonymous, so people are more likely to answer honestly. It is a great way to see what you are doing well and where there is room for improvement without feeling the need to be defensive.
But it is also fun to use, you can send badges or stickers to thank your colleagues for a job well done. Even senior management are actively engaging with the platform and making use of these features just as much as the younger employees. The tool allows users to post ideas and suggestions and in true democratic fashion, public voting takes place so that only the best ideas can then go on to be implemented.. It is inclusive and empowering to allow employees to have this level of ownership and agency in the workplace.
This is one of the many reasons that ABK employees choose to stay with the bank for so long. While many young Kuwaitis still shy away from the private sector, ABK has a proven track record of attracting locals into the banking industry. More than seventy percent of the workforce at ABK is Kuwaiti, a ratio they hope to grow in the future by attracting the brightest Kuwait has to offer and by offering more opportunities for growth and personal development. The Young Kuwaiti Development Program and ABK Academy are just two of the current education initiatives that help groom and prepare the younger generation of bankers into becoming the managers and executive officers of tomorrow. Jamil Girgis, who has been with the bank for almost 5 years t explained that the Talent Management Programs the bank offer are tailored and address specific areas of development. The bank routinely partners up with institutions such as KFAS, IBS, ACK and VIGOR enterprise to develop and refine their offering.
The HR team collectively believes that ongoing learning and development are the best ways to make sure that individuals and organizations perform at their best ability. The process has become more streamlined with the use of smarter and more advanced measuring and monitoring tools which help them quickly recognize opportunities for growth and improvement before they become obstacles and challenges.
ABK wants to share the knowledge with the community too, as Ali Bin Shaiba who joined in 2014 and is the Learning and Development head told us. The bank constantly takes part in job fairs, invites students for field trips to the head office, organizes seminars and offers internships as part of their way of giving back to the community. Students who intern at ABK are usually amazed at how energetic and vibrant the environment is and apply for jobs when they graduate. Most of them leave with expanded horizons and excitement for a career in banking.
ABK is unafraid of change, they embrace it at every step and understand that it is what will push them to new heights. The bank trusts its employees and has empowered them with the best tools, knowledge and attitudes. The result is a workforce that truly believes in their employer, and that is truly revolutionary.
For more information about ABK, please visit eahli.com or contact an ABK customer service agent via ‘Ahlan Ahli’ at 1899 899.
