Thread regarding Saudi Aramco layoffs

15 years is a prison sentence is what is essentially a hot he-l hole. Look up at the sky, hazy maybe a bit blue. Look at the horizon. Never blue. That’s the garbage you breathe each and every day.

@4uoh+1l7OO7OS

You mention millions so must have been a LOT more lucrative.

If I hold out for 15 more years it’s just 750K severance, assuming they don’t renege on that. I can make more elsewhere in that time and jumping ship in 2 weeks!

Recently retired after 10 years or so. Yes, I was still in the more lucrative payroll and I would have made at least a couple more mils if I stayed until retirement age. We were good at saving most of it. I brushed off the fact that some colleagues got cancer, respiratory issues or allergies. Foolish to think that it won't affect us. But then, when those folks across the border started aiming towards the camp and other installations, we decided to pack it up. I thought it is just a matter of time, so f#&k this s@#t, time to bounce.

@2dor+1l7OO7OS

This just isn’t true anymore, you must be on the old payroll that was discontinued many years ago. As of today:

• Pension is zero. Increases to 1k a month after 2 years.
• Repat is $15k a year for a family of four. This is not enough to live off for a year and way off your 50k figure.
• it’s 38 days holiday now and that includes weekends, it’s actually less than the 30 days I had in my old place.
• SAIP is $27k for me, that’s not enough to buy any kind of property. It much lower than my old place where I had a proper bonus.
• my salary went up 1% last year. No way it will double in my tenure here.
• boarding school isn’t an option if your kids are small
• yes, you can save more but that’s only due to the tax savings. I actually took home net less than I did back home.

I think are happy troll may be confussing the old US payroll, with the newer one. I would imagine at this stage everyone would be on the western payroll, which is even worse for retirement savings.

Also, everyone needs to forget the 10 or 20 year job path with aramco. You are now lucky to survive being laid off in 5

Bravo #2dor+1l7OO7OS - A Saudi troll that can spell and articulate his thoughts in english. If money is your only driver, yes Aramco will pay you tax free greenbacks. But career decisions are not that simple. Of course you need to think about everything ...health care, housing, quality of life, your family, and education and wellbeing for your family. The Aramco recruiters don't give you a true picture of family - working life balance, because none have every worked here. Our Saudi troll forgot to mention that for those ambitious professionals, there is no professional training or development in KSA. Dealing with indecisive, fickle, flegling managers and supervisor quickly wears one down. In the end Its a dead end career move. You're living is a dirty hot sandbox with a culture.that makes little sense. I don't expect you or your family will last long. Or some fledgling saudi manager will want you fired because you know more than him. Good luck amigo.

I agreed, you can do a lot of money at expenses of your marriage, health and exposing your children to unnecessarily risk.

Try it without family, if you like it, you can bring them anytime, if you don't, exit pricess will be more easier and less painful.

I recommend Aramco of 10 years ago not the current one, go and check for yourself and please post after that. I wish you will be one of the 9 happy ones mention in previous post.

You are on $260K base but they offered you 240K. You have a decent retirement. This is what you said. Let me answer you. I know a lot of people here won’t accept anything but negative comments.

How much are you paying in Federal taxes, medicare, medicaid, social security, State taxes, city taxes and property taxes. You see the magic here: you 260K just dropped to 150K while your 240K stayed the same, more or less.

How much is your electric, heating and water bills. Half of that money pays for your housing here. Deduct Mortgage maybe? How much do you pay for your car / cars insurance. It is dirt cheap here in comparison.

SAIP alone this year could buy me a small Studio. Thats just the bonus, mind you.

Name one place that gives you 2 months off a year, just one. (your vacation plus two Eid weeks. Dont forget Ramadan is a slow month (mini break for some) ). Im not making this stuff up. Just facts.

If you have a family of 4 or 5, how much does that translate into for your Repat every year. Some people live off this money all year long especially if your home base is the US. $40K/45K. Aint too shabby??? Dont you think?

Wait, I have more. The company contributes 11K to my pension every MONTH (130K a year). I am neither 50 nor approaching retirement 60. People in these categories get almost the EQUIVALENT of their base contributed to their RIP EVERY month. To be fair, I have been around a few years now. Shame on you Aramco for being generous.

I guess I dont need to introduce you to the Savings plan. Second to none on the planet. No Sir, not Microsoft, Not P&G, not Citi will come close, not by a 100 miles. A small fortune getting built over time.

If you have teens, they get to go to Boarding schools in Geneva, New York and Manchester and the company pays for them. Royal treatment. How much do think private schools cost in the US for 2, 3 Kids. Dont forget to deduct that from your 260K. Do you see how your 260K is looking more like 90K now? However, your 240K is more or less the same.

So let me answer your question. Aramco just tripled your salary. Keep following these haters and you will end up working 20 years instead of 7.

Just a fair answer based on facts, nothing more.

Personally, my merit increases and promotions have been really decent except for that one Covid year. My base today is TWICE what I started with. Compounded interest I call it. You can do the math.

Get a calculator out, a spreadsheet and do some number crunching. You will end up with a TRIPLE. Meaning that 240K is more like 600/700K if you were to stay where you are. Are you going to make 600/700K any time soon. Doubt it. The title of this site is thelayoff. Not the best source to get advice. Like someone on site said, for every bitter expat, there are 9 happy ones. Best luck to you and your family.

What I would do in your place is simple besides the wise advice given by other posters is simple. Think of a number and stick to it. Since they are low-balling just high-ball them way beyond that number.
If you read other posts life quality has dropped significantly in the camps so you have to take that un account.

I accepted GC14 at $12K base after haggling them up from an even lower start. They played the exact same BS with the lifestyle benefits and so forth and made a final offer giving me 2 days to accept it. What lifestyle. It’s sh*t here and the air is awful. Go with the advice, highball them and stick to your g-ns. Thanks for post.

Firstly, the longterm benefits are not what they used to be. Also, expect to be laid off within five years, so put that in your equation. If you are average, then they will replace you with someone cheaper at that time. If you are exceptional or invaluable, then you saudi colleagues and supervisors will be jealous and get rid of you.

What you seem to be in at the moment is some vegetable market hagling (phrase I picked up from a saudi) do counter with something and see how they reply.

I would go with $20k base and a GC15

I know people that were desperate enough to accept the low ball GC14 offers and were laid off before the 5 year mark that returned to the US in worse shape financially than when they went.

Yea, some Depts are cheapskates. They may not want to upset their current staff by offering newbies more. Hurts them of course. I agree with other comments. Ask for SC 15. Or just stay where u are. Best of luck either way. Hope it does work out for you. Aramco is great if you start on the right base.

Thanks for posting this

Ask them for a GC 15 and midrange of the salary band. They love to play games. If nothing else changes you are correct to remain in place.