Thread regarding Saudi Aramco layoffs

If your work in Midra and survive the next few weeks expect finding a good car park space to be that bit easier!

Admin/Core area already got cleaned out. Not their turn.

Midra.

Does anybody know something about layoffs in Midra? What about admin bldg. ?

America is only a small fraction of the world.

Trump seems to believe that all those highly qualified productive competitive billions of people can take some time away from that elusive and insurmountable Clean Fresh Fit For Human Consumption Running Water Production problem and focus some time on How To Sell Cheap Knockoff Crp To Each Other.

They never could afford American stuff anyway. Now they can focus like lasers on inventing, producing, and selling their own original stuff. That should leave at least a few factories making something open right?

(I can't think of any but I'm fairly sure that out of all those billions of people there's someone who's not just stamping out and packaging cheap / fake copies)

Trump is creating jobs for american at home that was taken by Chinese and others.. If Americans are not replaceable why they have been in this situation at home... And why trump have to change immigration laws to save American jobs from foreigners.

That Midra request system proudly holds the record for "Most Wasted Time in History of Mankind on Earth"

Listen to these guys pop off.

Saudi or the West- the outcome for those leaving is exactly the same. Same house, same car, same eddy for the kiddos - all the same. Buy now or buy later / enjoy now or enjoy later is the only difference.

Not for you. The replacements get a special one of a kind prize.

When the westerners are gone the hospitals, schools, and communities that they, not the Saudis, set up years ago to maintain some level of civilized lifestyle will be turned over to Saudis friends and relatives to operate under contracts. What that means is that the less they do for you, the more they get to keep.

Sounds fun doesn't it.

So this housecleaning has to happen before that can be done. We'll just wait and see how much you like Saudi Arabia and how much you're celebrating your new status then.

That's fair, but at least for Finance and Law positions, the US guys are still a notch above everyone else. They are not only number crunchers or legal researchers; they have significant experience and know-how's that are very difficult to find anywhere else. They are also better communicators generally speaking.

I'm not sure about Engineering positions.

Most US payroll do the same job as asian payroll and get four time the salary... Its time to clean up the house. These US payroll guys are not worth what aramco is paying them... Even in america they will get half and with taxes also.. Aramco getting smarter...

All we know is that Midra is about to be eviscerated like a fresh fish.

Heard some rumors about a handful of layoffs from IT, Auditing, and P&CSD. Can someone confirm numbers, which payroll, and years with company?

More and more bad news. It's time to search for a new good job. Good luck.

Dropping by to see if "Mr Lister the Apple Bobbing Wonder" has come up for air to lecture us again

They've always dreamed about replacing the US payroll with cheap Asian knockoffs. They get exactly what they pay for too.

What "bonus"? 10 years of service age 50+ is retirement eligibility, not a "bonus".

Now that age is raised to 55 but so what? Whatever's in the pension at 9 years is still parked in the US, out of reach of Aramco, and belongs to the employee. When he/she wants it, he/she can get it.

I'd be worried about what's in store for the non-US payrolls. Those guys are screwed.

We have heard that one of the primary targets are US payroll approaching 5 and ten years. The rumor is that they are doing it to avoid paying the bonus. Any comment? Another buzz is that the Company is replacing expensive "grade code" with newcomers placed in grade code 12 or 13 max.

It will take more than fire hoses to stop what is coming! goodluck!

Hearing more and more that the firehoses are coming out and during Feb\Mar we will have another bloodbath.

Expropriated? Hahahaha

Defrauded would be the correct term.

Abuse sovereign immunity enough and it gets yanked

In response to @IF2wAWy-2Jsry about the GOSI lawsuit...

Here is the court decision: http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-dc-circuit/1312448.html

To be fair, the Saudi government DID eventually refund the 5% employee contribution back to the expat workers (although at the same they effectively expropriated the 8% employer contribution that was supposed to fund the employee pension benefits).

Quote:

In 1987 Saudi Arabia issued Royal Decree No. M/43, “which excluded non-Saudi workers from GOSI's Annuit[ies] Branch.” J.A. 6. The upshot of the Royal Decree was that non-Saudi workers were no longer eligible for retirement and death benefits. At some point between 1987 and 1990, however, Saudi Arabia decided to refund to non-Saudi workers a portion of the contributions made to the Annuities Branch in their names. Peterson, who had worked for multiple engineering and construction companies in Saudi Arabia from 1979 to 1990 and made contributions to GOSI, applied for and eventually received in 1988 a refund of the five per cent contribution he made to the Annuities Branch. Along with his refund check, Peterson received the following notice: “Attached is a check for the value of your entitlements, due to you as per the applicable rules for this purpose. This payment represents your full dues from GOSI.” J.A. 22.

Any news about Filipino's stampede from Dhahran Hospital after JH takeover?

http://www.albawaba.com/business/saudi-arabia-sued-billions-dollars-owed-us-workers

The question of ethics was answered years ago. The expats participating in this program today need to think long and hard about their liklihood of collecting it.

In this case sovereign immunity was invoked (does that sound familiar) and the Saudi government simply kept the expats GOSI benefits.

New update:

Still hitting admin areas of Dhahran, a few per day.

Supposed to be quite a few more before March

Trolling at his best..."the ultimate trolling"

He's just trolling. Those of us who really bring it to the table on both sides know better.

Pleasing True Leaders is he's only way to get E, E+ or more......Yes men?

Explains how he's qualified to recognize all those True Leaders that alllllllll the rest of us missed.

Walmart managers make 100k. Maybe this guy is only qualified to manage a Walmart back in the world.

100-120k? That's 2005 salary range. You're a little bit out of touch. Been here awhile?

OMG, the guy who wrote " My job pays 100K-120K" is really sick or he's a frustrated Saudi.

ID: @IF2wAWy-2Eakn Most of the stuff you wrote is true but I was just wondering that since you are so full of yourself what are you doing snooping around on " Lay off.com" :)

The last lad who commented on this thread clearly has no life.

I am an expat who works with some of the hardest working Saudis and expats in the company. I love this company who has taken good care of me. In order to make what I make here I will need to make half a million dollars in the West. Not happening anytime in my lifetime. For some to say that some companies in the West are paying as much as Aramco, I say get off the pipe. My job pays 100K-120K in the West, meaning I will be a poor man until I die.

My Saudi managers are not managers, they are true leaders who inspire me and I have no issue coming to the office (with a smile on my face) on weekends due to the trust and respect they give me. And I do it because I want to and no one forces me to.

I don’t know where do some of these bitter disgruntled people on this board come from, but I have enjoyed many OOK training all over the world. I do not pat myself on the shoulder but I have consistently scored high (PMPs) and will continue to do so (I know that because even prior to Aramco I excelled not due to the company but because I have always given it 110% regardless of country or Company I worked for). If the company asks me to leave, I will do so and thank them for the opportunity to have worked with some of the best and brightest. I worked for Fortune 20 Companies and they can only dream of competing with the work environment Aramco provided me.

To this day, employers and headhunters call me on daily basis. So much for you won’t have a career after Aramco. That’s pure bull.

95% of layoffs for expats were well deserved and I hope to see more fat trimming until they leave the best of the best. I cannot tolerate some of these overpaid expats who don’t do jack while seeing young 20+ yo Saudis producing 10 times more and better deliverables than these old farts who got used to a comfy life with nothing to show for. I have no sympathy for the majority of them because they did it to themselves. I would have felt bad had they been top performers and got sacked. Reality is most couldn’t compete and for that I say, don’t let the door hit you on your way out. I myself have nominated mostly expats and some Saudis for termination as they are nothing but a liability to their teams and to the Company.

I never felt without a voice or intimidated, I speak my mind. The company hired me for being that person and have consistently enjoyed excellent relationships with my bosses (Aramco and previous employers) and will continue to do so and that’s why I consider myself fairly accomplished.

Every single one of us (hypocrite expats) signed up for this gig for $$$$$. If we wanted careers, we could all have stayed in our heaven countries making SH*&load of money and handing in over to the government at the end of the month and drink a 6-pack with the $20 left in our checking. I save 90% of my pay, my retirement accountS (with an S) go up astronomically year after year while my peers back home are getting 50 cents on a dollar up to 6% (whoooohoo, and they are ecstatic calling that generous).

Every single bitter laid off expat on this board is exactly one of those who I wish the company have gotten rid of years ago not just now. I could nominate another 100 of these overpaid cats. To make things even worse, they complain about careers, training and rocking the boat. If that’s what you want, who’s holding you back, sweet heaven home country is calling your name and will pay a third of what you make here. Oh, I forget, before it hits your account (FICA, PIKA and MIKA) will take half. And then you get to spend the other half on mortgage, car payment, private schools, electric, heat, Internet. And if you’re lucky, you can go to the lake once a year, and you can call that your yearly repat vacation. Oh I forgot, you will have the honor to work 8 to 8 every day.

Why are people worried, if you are a top performer, you have nothing, absolutely nothing to worry about. And if you do get canned, a million others will snatch you in a heartbeat. If you have gotten used to a fat check, calling it an apology, and you don’t do anything, then they’re coming after you and it’s just a matter of time, so skip the weekend trips to Bahrain and save every penny while you can, but when they get you, you have no one to blame but yourself.

@IF2wAWy-2Dspy I am told that if you're total compensation is above SAR100k a month (around USD27K) which includes everything you're getting (EAP, Repatriation package, etc), then you better hope to god you're getting an E and above for your performance. So I think, you are on the right track in terms of productivity vs cost.

Forget the US Payroll being finished, its Actually Saudi that is finished. The rise of Fracking has made sure of that, keep cutting OPEC ive just brought on two more wells! cheers!

" Several more today - all US payroll ", Is this the end of US payroll in Saudi Aramco?

@IF2wAWy-2Djkd Perhaps it's just a case of letting go the most expensive employees, who happen to be US payroll? Those with families? Often it's the case that the productivity doesn't justify the cost.

Several more today - all US payroll (which seems to be the pattern for the latest round). So either US payroll are the lowest performers (ha) or the Saudis are specifically targeting Americans.

No numbers. Just random visits to random offices. Tough to watch.