Is this the company with the most issues related to favoritism you’ve ever worked for? There is favoritism everywhere but here they don't even try to hide it anymore. If you are among the favorites then you don't have to put in much effort. All rewards and no repercussions. If you are not, then it does not help even if you are a hard worker.
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Simple answer, NO
'The difference is that it takes Expats a while to learn just how rigged the game has become.'
This seems like a simple statement but is actually, IMO, very profound. Any large corporation can have a bit of a rigged game, however, if you are expecting anything close to a level playing field, look elsewhere.
Favoritism ki--s the work ethic of Expats and Saudis alike. The difference is that it takes Expats a while to learn just how rigged the game has become. Saudis either come in knowing this or learn it really fast. Thus, the company needs a steady stream of new Expats that they can milk work out of. The new paradigm is to layoff the Expats as soon as they catch on and to use the constant prospects of layoffs to squeeze lots of work from those that have no other job prospects.
Anything you hear from Expats who worked at Aramco pre 2018 is not relevant today. As an Expat, you run a high risk of being exploited and discarded. If you absolutely NEED a job, then come but don't bring your family and don't expect to be there more than a year or two.
All of this is just my opinion, but I lived it, along with others here who are telling the truth.
There is no favouritism at Aramco. I worked there for 30 years. Do a good job and you are rewarded. People who did a miserable job and were fired blame favouritism for their ills. Aramco was, is, and will remain a great company. Long live Aramco.
Hmmmm a sudden spike in up and down votes, I taw, I taw a putty tat!
Check the PDVSA HR manual. They have a great section on favoritism.
If you don’t like the situation, do not go there. Why fret over the past or the future? It’s a state-owned company that does not need to conform to any of your US views, US laws or US customs.
There is no fair there, period, full stop.
As said earlier here and elsewhere (have you noticed that the facts keep reappearing in various posts?)
- fly below the radar
- collect and bank apologies
- learn to expect the unexpected and irrational
- don't think too much. Look for humor in the daily events
- try to enjoy the differences, sights, sounds and places
- keep your life unencumbered and simple
- know when it is time to go. Better one day early than one day too late.
Odds are you won't climb any professional ladders or learn any new career valued technologies. Realize that you won't make a difference or major contribution. Doing the time isn't as easy these days as days gone by and I posit getting continually more difficult for western expats.
To be cliché.... 'it is what it is'.
I agree with Herr Freud. The only fix would be total anihilation or some sort of cultural revolution. We well know how those turn out. Meanwhile just go with the flow and try not to get in trouble.
In my experience there, the best thing to do is comply with your boss' requirements regardless how absurd they might be and collect your 200. Unfortunately I learned that the hard way after 2 years in the organization. So the next 4 I just rolled with the punches till my time came.
Also I have to add the typical passive aggressive behavior of withholding information and resources needed to complete a task while demanding to meet an absurd deadline. I literally had to steal information from certain people's computers by transferring it to a shared drive then transferring it to mine.
@1qnm+1cqjMtYD
Is correct, IMO, with rare exceptions to the general rule.
In order, strongest pull to weaker:
- family
- tribe
- allies/friends
- sect
- monarch/country
If some of these intersect with boss, lookout for a rising star.
This is how they have survived for millennia. All of this modern culture, modern business and cell phone era has come about in less than the last 100 years. The old ways are going to be mighty hard to supplant.
In this case it comes with the territory. Why else would you think it is so inefficient.? As @1wip+1cqjMtYD it's a state owned company and owned by a very tribal family. So if you are not of the right tribe or are not liked by the incumbent boss, tough luck.
If you're coming to Aramco expecting to see some degree of competency, forget about it, just duck your head, pass go and collect your 200.
It’s a state-owned oil company. They can do what they want. They are not subject to US Laws. Why should they care about our thoughts on this subject?