Thread regarding Saudi Aramco layoffs

One of the worst corporate cultures on the planet. And it’s getting worse. With oil prices being squeezed and all the competent expats removed, who will be there to take the blame?

I left last year best decision of my life.
Lasted less than 3 years.
And I hated all of you.

Same here. Laid off and happy. Can't be better. Worst environment ever.

Happily laid off a year later after this post. Three months into this new life and job my blood pressure had come down + sleep pattern has returned to normal.- and yet there remains the damage done by a horrendous work environment and the worst possible bosses.- lies within other lies, a useless body of work and incompetency for all. A decade of He-l. I will always be grateful to the good souls I met over the years.
But the place is such a w40rehouse that all I had to do was texpress my interest in being deemed redundant. A few months later I was packing. Get out of there while you still can.

This hits home. Worst experience of my career.

You would think a trillion dollar company is well run and organized. Nope, most procedures and policies are id--tic and senseless. Plus, there is the silent animosity between you and the locals. They think an expat is making much much more $$$, then you need to do all grunt work, while they sit and watch, waiting for you to fail. I realized this early on. Never let them dictate my fate. I was resourceful to find solutions. Was a friend and sympathetic listener to all, even those I despise. You got to be a chameleon or a Swiss kn--e there to survive, blend in and do-it-all type of guy. Don't give them basterds the satisfaction to see you quit or get laid off.

To the ones that enjoyed it here, the ones that didn't, those that lost it all, those fired, retired, resigned, and those ones fighting dark forces everyday: Have a Merry Christmas

Wow! Seems like 'things' are steadily degrading there. Some things like the housing battle has been fought many times before and will continue. The golden era of the Saudi western expat has truly vanished.

I was brought in as a consultant and experienced many lies, deception and the duplicity of management. Such things are so naturally done snd common.

The mental health is a big concern on the camp, expecially with children and teenagers is quite disturbing. Wives of male workers is also a concern who do nothing but gossip, spread lies, spin the rumour mill and cause trouble.

I was put in a unit which wasn't fit for purpose. I was in continual communication wiyh maintenance about resolving things but was never remedied. Half the house had no electric and water broke through the celling of my kitchen. Plugs were damp which was unsafe for use.

Feeling as a temp worker, my role promised an iqama and never happened. Contracts were always incorrect and I was forced to sign my last one. After polite discourse I was promised it would be rectified if I sign and return. I did as an act of faith and goodwill. As the salary figure was wrong I could not be paid to my home bank account from the department. This issue was never resolved so I was accumulating cash and finding novel ways how to get it out of the country.

With no bank account (as I didn't have an Iqama) and being paid cash I asked for help from my 'supervisor' who retorted "go find a friend."

I was on my own, new and didn't have any friends on camp. Not that I'm unsocial I did ask around but couldn't secure help ad I was told by some that the KSA government scan accounts. Some UK folk said they couldn't as they have self employed status back home.

When I returned home after finishing a contract, I waited two months before I was asked to return and without seeing a new contract. Simply, I requested to see the new contract before returning so that there are no issues again. Same lies again and that Inwas told "that its easier to do when I fly back.", Really? I never saw a scan of the new contract too. I never saw or received the contract. A plethor of accusations md lies was spread about me and I didn't return on principle.

And I still wonder how this company continues.

Aftershock, you'd be surprised at how many of us suffer from anxiety, depression, etc, you'd be even more surprised at the amount of Aramcons under heave meds. I couldn't believe such and such were my coworkers and they were quite popular successful and still under pills.
Incredible rate of mental health problems outside the compound, and the effort put into cover it up.
Keep in mind there's always worse than us and we have the duty of get better and cannot surrender to this environment. We have to improve and we will. Say it out loud. And God Bless you too.

UnwillingTimeTraveler and I have much in common. I felt like he was speaking for me..“I lost loved ones, divorced, became lazy + slow”. In 3 years I have gone through 5 jobs and now suffer from anxiety as I search for #6. Before Aramco, I wouldn't have thought any of this would be remote possibility. I am just trying to limp across the line and hope I haven't blown through my savings so I can retire early....or am blessed enough to find a workplace culture where I can thrive. I hate blaming Aramco but after 7 years in Saudi, the aftershock is real. Best of luck and God bless you UnwillingTimeTraveler.

'False economy', what an interesting concept. False in the sense that compared with western economies it is an outlier in many ways, no doubt. Not false within the small pond confines of KSA.

At least that poor soul that 'lost loved ones' etc... did not mention that he had become an alcoholic and/or dr-g addict, so there is that bright side. Aramco used to have monetary advantages but, at least from my perspective, there have always been costs.

“I lost loved ones, divorced, became lazy + slow”

No amount of money is worth this, it’s a complete false economy. Thanks you for your honest words.

Honest reflection Time Traveller thanks. I was there for a period and back in the west trying to rebuild my career. I make less than I did but I feel happier. For me personally it was not worth it to spend any significant time in KSA. The colleagues around me fell into 2 distinct categories. Recent joiners who for the most part seemed capable. And those who had been around for years. They were, mostly, useless. They knew, mostly, that they had become unemployable and their lives were focused on su-king a-s to make it to retirement.

Well said unwilling time traveler, well said indeed.

Well I basically committed professional su----e this decade. By working little, learning very little except for PowerPoint, coexisting with low intelligence individuals. A place where it is more important to obey and behave than work hard. The worst possible environment ( people and air quality wise. ) I lost loved ones, divorced, became lazy + slow. Yes it was my fault for staying longer and longer but the place didn't help. Nothing is free this was the price and all these years left me a pile of money and a new set of useless skills. I just hope some of you don't follow my path : no it's not worth.

@vyu+1q0wOPzY Be kind, be happy? Tell that to the many who came and found it was nothing like it was promised. Who had horrendous experiences including what happened to some of their loved ones in the magic kingdom. Of course as a local, you cannot comprehend that. A lie to you and Aramco is as natural as the sun rising.

Very true in my experience. Aramco is a horrible, backstabbing culture where racism is encouraged by management. We’ve all seen it, locals sit on their hands and say nothing. Speaking up is career su----e.

@vyu+1q0wOPzY Is clearly a local troll. When a company lies, breaks promises, misleads, fools, tricks, cons whatever you call it, trust is broken. This is nothing to do with “life”.. what a stoopid statement.

Expats are just fodder, Aramco is a sham. Nothing about the company is true, even its reserving figures cannot be trusted. It’s a giant house of cards run by a mafia cartel.

Thanks for the post. Let’s just ignore the diatribe spouting from the local @vyu+1q0wOPzY

Well, why didn't you look for a job in your own country first and build your skills and rise to the top. Why did you choose to leave your country to work for the Saudi's? If you thought it was going to be a great opportunity, well you found out it wasn't. It's just part of a life experience. Everyone has different life experiences and the important thing is you learn from them and grow to become a better human. Now that someone has treated you badly, hopefully, you will understand other humans that work in your future job. And when they have some type of a troubling situation, you are more willing to open your heart and understand their troubles and be a kinder person to them. Life is life. We just have to figure out how to live it the best way we can. Even when you have a heavy burden or at the lowest point in your life, try to rise above it and laugh and be happy. Don't stress yourself too much. Everyone goes through ups and downs of life. That's why life is called life and we are the human creatures on this planet like no other creature. It is wonderful to be a human and to be given the opportunity to live life. Be kind, be happy.