In December 2006 Desert Group began employing people with varying physical and intellectual disabilities as part of its corporate social responsibility efforts. In the course of two and a half years, 41 employees with disabilities were employed. [British University in Dubai (BUID) researcher] Al Borno's study was aimed at understanding the positive and negative [impacts] of employing PWDs [people with disabilities] and she met with the employees, managers and psychologists who were part of the project. "One of the key findings of this study was a remarkable 88 per cent staff retention rate, meaning only five out of the 41 employees resigned since the programme commenced, leading to reduced direct and hidden costs of staff turnover," Al Borno said. She said minor adjustments at the Desert Group workplace helped boost the performance of the employees who strive to do their best and take pride in their work like any other staff.