Article: HR = Human Happiness Centre; Here’s why

Human Resources is being called the new ‘Human Happiness Centre’—a trend, adopted by the UAE-based Bronet Group, is expected to go viral soon.

The ‘Human Happiness Centre’ is a future-forward approach that moves HR away from traditional strategies, transitioning into a more holistic model that nurtures the workforce. It emphasises people-centric engagement, well-being, and experience initiatives. This is not just a change in name; it redesigns the heart of the organisation, fostering a positive work culture that values, supports, and motivates employees to commit to a sustainable approach to success.

Saheer Abdullah, Managing Director of Bronet Group, commented, “We are excited to take this innovative step forward in the evolution of our HR department. In the spirit of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s commitment to happiness, we believe that by focusing on our people’s well-being, we can achieve greater success as an organisation.”

How ‘Human Happiness Centre’ changes the way HR works:

The ‘Human Happiness Centre’ follows a roadmap focused on recruitment and talent management, and also embeds happiness into the core of an organisation’s strategy—translating both business excellence and employee satisfaction. HR, with this new approach, rolls out innovative programmes designed to enhance employee well-being and engagement, such as:

Nudges employees to adopt healthy habits:

As part of the ‘Human Happiness Centre,’ HR not only promotes programs for employees to adopt good habits like savings, fitness, and proper hydration, but also builds a culture of wellness where employees are gently nudged toward holistic well-being and productivity. This centre removes barriers from employees' paths as they jog toward better health and well-being, showing them exactly what they need to take care of themselves.

Care culture for mental wellbeing:

Mental well-being is the need of the hour, as more and more employees open up about their daily struggles—due to work stress as well as personal chaos. The Human Happiness Centre provides access to mental health resources, including counseling and wellness sessions, so employees feel supported during times of emotional distress.

Helping employees strike a better work-life balance:

Burnout is on the rise as employees struggle with the work-life dilemma. An increasing number of workers feel the need to maintain a better work-life balance but are failing to do so. HR is at the forefront of reshaping the work culture into a positive one. And as part of the Human Happiness Centre, they bring forth new strategies for flexible work arrangements and resources, so employees can balance their professional and personal responsibilities without compromising their mental well-being.

Reskilling, upskilling, and skilling:

As skill gaps continue to widen with shifts in the world of work, HR needs to restrategise its employee development strategies. As part of the ‘Human Happiness Centre,’ HR focuses on new ways of Learning and Development for the workforce. This includes three pillars—Upskilling, Reskilling, and Skilling—to help workers develop new skills so they can perform better, advance in their careers, and design their own career paths. This also helps in talent retention, as employees find ways to improve their career trajectory within the organisation.

Providing accessible and inclusive insurance:

Post-COVID, health and insurance plans have been at the center of conversations, with employees needing extendable plans that include their family members as well. By offering affordable, all-inclusive, extendable family health insurance plans, the Human Happiness Centre ensures employees feel a sense of security.

Making the retirement journey a smooth sail:

Workers, mostly expats, have recently expressed dissatisfaction with the current End of Service Gratuity (EoSG) systems and the lack of clarity around retirement benefit options. But as a Human Happiness Centre, HR eases this process. They offer comprehensive guidance on retirement plans so employees nearing retirement can better plan for their retirement days, with a sense of financial security.

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The company adopted Sheikh Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai’s initiative, the ‘Human Happiness Centre,’ which was first introduced in November 2016 as part of well-being efforts across the UAE. It focuses on three key areas:

Integrating happiness into the policies, programs, and services of all public and private workplaces.
Promoting well-being and happiness as a lifestyle within the community across the UAE.
Developing benchmarks and metrics to measure happiness.

It covers both Emiratis and expatriate residents, as well as visitors, and guides all employers in adopting initiatives that support these goals. It also recommends books on happiness and well-being culture in the workplace.