News

MENA Survey Investigates Employee Loyalty And Satisfaction

Research revealed 81% of the workforce are highly engaged and 68% take pride in their company’s products and services.

Published

2 years ago

July 31, 2024

Nour Nasir

Bayt

In a recent survey by leading job site Bayt.com and YouGov, the driving factors contributing to employee loyalty in the MENA region were identified, along with actions that could potentially enhance or undermine it.

In the survey, 55% of participants reported having been with their current employer for over four years. This stability appears to parallel workplace satisfaction, with nearly 60% of employees indicating satisfaction with their current employers. Meanwhile, 33% of employees categorize themselves as “very loyal” to their organizations, with an additional 23% feeling “somewhat loyal”.

The survey also found that the vast majority of workers (81%) were highly engaged with their jobs, indicating a deep immersion in day-to-day company activities.

In terms of factors contributing to overall loyalty, the survey reports that salary satisfaction stands out as a critical aspect for 54% of respondents, closely followed by employee job fit at 36% and additional company benefits at 32%.

According to the survey, employers should focus on increased recognition and rewards to boost staff loyalty (cited by 60%). Opportunities for growth were identified by 52% of respondents, and the facilitation of regular discussion forums to address employee grievances was emphasized by 50%.

Regarding factors that could potentially detract from employee loyalty, neglecting staff suggestions had a significant impact (56% agreed). Heavy workloads or unequal distribution of responsibilities were cited by 54% of respondents as a problem, while poor communication from direct managers was also a major source of dissatisfaction (51% agreed).

Also Read: The Most AI-Proof Career Opportunities In The Middle East

Ola Haddad, General Manager at Bayt.com explained the importance of the research, saying: “Understanding and nurturing employee loyalty is critical in navigating the dynamic landscapes of the MENA workforce. Our survey reveals a powerful correlation between trust in leadership and employee allegiance”.

Zafar Shah, Account Director at YouGov added: “As the data suggests, employees who feel valued through fair compensation, job fit, and career opportunities are more inclined to feel more engaged in their workplace and speak about their companies’ products and services passionately. It is this sense of belonging and purpose that distinguishes highly loyal employees from the rest”.

News

Spotify Will Now Tell You If Your Favorite Artist Isn’t Real

The streaming platform is introducing an “AI Personas” label and cutting AI-generated artist profiles from its recommendations.

Published

4 days ago

August 12, 2026

Nour Nasir

Spotify

These days, the question of whether the artist you’re streaming actually exists is no longer hypothetical. Spotify intends to combat this issue by introducing a label called “AI Personas” for artist profiles that present an AI-generated, human-like identity rather than a real person. More consequentially, it will also keep those profiles out of its editorial and algorithmic recommendations by default.

From mid-September, listeners will start seeing an AI Persona badge on artist profiles, appearing in the banner and About section, in Search, and on track rows across playlists. Tapping the badge reveals whether the artist disclosed the AI identity themselves, or whether Spotify’s review team made the determination after examining the profile.

That distinction matters, because Spotify is not relying on self-disclosure alone. Artists can flag their own profiles as AI Personas through Spotify for Artists as of today, but the platform will also review profiles whose public identity – including name and imagery – appears to represent photorealistic AI-generated identities. The rollout begins with artists who have met defined audience thresholds, so the labels cover the vast majority of profiles listeners actually visit. Artists badged by Spotify’s reviewers will be notified and can self-disclose or appeal, and in the coming months listeners will be able to report suspected AI Personas themselves.

Also Read: Shokz OpenFit Pro Review: Open-Ear Audio Finally Grows Up

The company’s recommendations policy is also being tweaked. Music from AI Personas will not surface in a listener’s personalized recommendations unless, for example, they follow the artist. Spotify says all artists have a creative choice in how they present themselves, but its programming is focused on elevating music from authentic artists building careers in music.

The badge concerns identity, not production of the music itself. An artist who uses AI tools to make music is a separate question, one Spotify addresses through AI Credits and SongDNA. The AI Persona label sits alongside those features, plus Verified by Spotify and Artist Profile Protection, in what the company has made one of its top priorities this year: letting listeners trust that the artist behind the music is who they claim to be.