Employee Survey Update

You may recall an Employee Survey that was conducted last year, that offered employees an opportunity to assess various aspects of life at KAUST. Since then, the feedback received has helped guide and inform many changes at the organizational level. Following is a list of some of the actions taken:

• English lessons offered for personnel and spouses
• Human Resources has developed and/or amended six policies which were communicated and announced to personnel and/or community members
• Shuttle bus fixed timing system implemented last September
• Additional purple route added last month with further schedule enhancements on all routes
• Jeddah shopping bus trips increased to six days per week
• Additional daily IMC shuttle buses offered
• Increased supervision on the quality of produce, meat, and fish at Tamimi markets
• Monthly price monitoring of a Tamimi “basket of goods” in comparison to Jeddah supermarkets
• Significant rate reductions for personal taxi services
• Long-term guests with photo ID (three days or more) are permitted to use all Recreation facilities
• South beach is open one day each week for ladies only
• Increased offerings of cultural and community events (Community Iftars, Eid events, Saudi National Day, “Welcome to My Country”, and International Food Festival)
• Additional specialist clinics at KMC (internal medicine, ophthalmology, psychiatry, orthopedic, ENT, dietician, and dermatology)
• Dental staff added an additional dentist and one hygienist

Upcoming actions to be taken as a result of feedback:
• New restaurants will be opening in the coming months, offering a greater variety of ethnic foods (Chinese, Italian, Lebanese, and Mexican)
• Tamimi will be working with community members to identify “must have” brands and products

Congratulations to Human Resources and Facilities & Community for their positive response to employee feedback. And thank you to those who participated in the survey. Human Resources has indicated that the survey was a worthwhile learning experience and that they intend to repeat it in 2013.