At almost every business conference I have attended lately, discussions have revolved around the mega shifts that businesses are navigating: virtualisation, digitisation and navigating the metaverse.
Businesses and individuals are discussing buying plots in the metaverse, where high street fashion brands such as H&M have already opened their first stores.
In such a fast-paced scenario, businesses are rapidly shifting the way they operate and ensuring their teams are equipped to deal with, and lead, these changes.
This has left many of us wondering about the kind of jobs that will exist in the future.
Will we have salespeople who operate solely in the metaverse? Will educational institutions of the future also be in a virtual world?
At the World Government Summit (WGS) in Dubai last month, speakers discussed that children will soon be pursuing careers that don’t exist as yet.
A report published by Dell Technologies in 2018, along with the Institute for the Future (IFTF) and 20 global experts, said that 85 per cent of jobs that will exist by 2030 had yet not been invented.
Hence, it’s natural for people to feel that their current job role may become obsolete in the future. Who would want to hire 10 accountants, for instance, when software could substitute their role?
But I don’t believe that will be the case. This shift in the way we work is not the end of our roles; it’s merely a redirection towards jobs that will not be replaced by technology.
“End of routine does not mean the end of human work,” said Gerd Leonhard, a futurist who spoke at the WGS.
“If you work like a robot, a robot will take your job."
With people thinking that they now need to compete with machines, Mr Leonhard advocates that the “ultimate job is to be human”, and that businesses need to invest in people as much as they invest in technology.
So how can we prepare our teams? What are the most coveted workforce skills? According to research by IFTF, the top skills that future employees need to be equipped with for a successful career include contextualised intelligence — a nuanced understanding of people, culture, the business environment and society.
Organisations and educational institutions are taking note. Nearly 20 per cent of employers in the US, including Tesla and LinkedIn, offer empathy training as part of their development programmes. Stanford University offers compassion training, a programme designed to help people improve their resilience and feel more connected to others.
How do we ensure that our roles won’t become obsolete? As with any change and challenge that arises in business, we need to be agile and embrace the changes that come our way.
Our human characteristics are our competitive advantage. Our creativity, compassion and understanding of nuances are aspects that can never be taken over by a machine.
For businesses, that means we need a shift in company culture and, as Mr Leonhard stated at WGS, we need to invest in our people.
We need to invest in developing a company culture and training programmes that will equip our teams to tap into their creativity and help them to remain agile and flexible.
We need to lean on our human creativity to mould our jobs and embrace the rapid change so they meet future needs.
In a world that will be highly automated, our unique human characteristics will be exceptional. Let’s work on developing them.
Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer and communications consultant based in Abu Dhabi.
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UAE salary guide 2022
World Cup final
Who: France v Croatia
When: Sunday, July 15, 7pm (UAE)
TV: Game will be shown live on BeIN Sports for viewers in the Mena region
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Results
3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,000m; Winner: Dhafra, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
3.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Al Ajayib, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel
4pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Ashtr, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Majed Al Jahouri
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Falcon Claws, Szczepan Mazur, Doug Watson
5pm: Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Cup – Prestige Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Al Mufham SB, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Badar Al Hajri
5.30pm: Sharjah Marathon – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 2,700m; Winner: Asraa Min Al Talqa, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi
Company%20profile%20
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Switch%20Foods%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Edward%20Hamod%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Plant-based%20meat%20production%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2034%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%246.5%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20round%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Based%20in%20US%20and%20across%20Middle%20East%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 13', Kroos 28')
Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')
Red card: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
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WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
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