Absolutely everything I do in this place is transactional. Nobody builds even the working relationships. Everyone acts like they are holding onto state secrets. Nobody is straight. Lying is a national sport. Cheating is endemic. Exact opposite of what I stand for. WTF is wrong with these people.
10 replies (most recent on top)
One positive from working at aramco: you will try the rest of your life to make sure those disgusting people that now run it and the people that look up to them don’t leave and ruin your workplace and worse, your home and country.
If you have to go for the job, it might be better to leave your family in their home country.
The happy home and camp life days are on their way out or already gone. That's part of the previous golden era of western expats. I believe, (I left late 2019) that it will be a hard life for families. Just my opinion, maybe there are some with more recent concrete experiences and examples that would like to contribute. One positive, however, is that the Aramco employee (father) should only be working 7-4, 5 days a week if that. Don't put in extra time thinking that it will raise your stock with management...will be a complete waste.
@3rjm+1tVoUfoi makes some great points.
Maybe there needs another topic opened on the school options and standards, and how also the environment influences kids growing up on camp.
When I was leaving due to a toxic culture, someone said to me:
There are two types of people here, one a ‘sc--w nail’ and the other a ‘straight nail’. Now which one is easier to hammer straight into the wall?
Your post is accurate of the culture across KSA, not just this company.
Truthfully speaking, I met the most transactional people during my time. And I decided that I was not having my kids educated by this type of expat that travels to KSA solely for the money. These people have no passion. They follow the money only.
Those were the days. Had to"steal" information to actually get some work done. Especially if you were assigned for the task and couldn't find the information someone would show up suddenly to "save the day"
@xcu+1tVoUfoi I taw I taw a putty thobe. I did, I did taw a putty thobe!
As I keep reading the reccurring message, "At their own free will, only the very best leave."
Leave before it does some permanent mental or physical damage. It won’t get better. Stress does terrible things if left too long. Fcuk them and move on.
just leave, man
A hypercompetitive environment to be sure. To the point of being a net negative attribute within the work culture, maybe even endemic to the societal fabric itself.