That kind of support from the top, she says, is vital if human resources policies and procedures are to work across eighteen group companies employing over fifteen hundred people. Unless you have the support of top management, you can't achieve anything. It all began around five years ago, since when the group HR department has put in place systems and procedures that are followed throughout the company. Every new recruit that joins Al Rostamani now receives an induction manual that sets out procedures on things as simple as applying for leave. Job descriptions and duties are now made clear to every employee.
Employees have a six month probationary period with a mid-term appraisal after three months.
Those are objectives that have been articulated to an employee at the beginning of the year. Lobo says that structured procedures like these are necessary in today's employment market. Shipping unskilled employees in and out every six months is no longer good enough. As competition intensifies and the Gulf market becomes more professional, human beings are becoming the difference between success and mediocrity. A structured environment, where objectives are made clear and progression is possible, is the minimum expected by bright potential employees.