Thread regarding Saudi Aramco layoffs

" I have seen so many senior employees who wastes 90%+ of their time in the office. I have seen managers and leaders who make really poor, unethical decisions that waste billions of $ of the company’s money" I do agree with you.

Along with PRIDE I will include: Nepotism, Tribal relations and difference between Sunny, shiite & others. Time will talk.

I am an expat. I have enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to work here. I love the people I work here – including the Saudis – even though some are amongst the most difficult personalities I have ever dealt with in my professional career.

I care about the company and the country. I am doing all I can to add value, but I can only do so within my limited sphere of influence. The people who have the power are … the Saudis, who comprise 85% of the workforce and fill 95%+ of management positions. But I’m afraid to say, they are really driving this company to ruin.

The biggest roadblock to progress in this place is PRIDE.

Pride causes one refusal to acknowledge problems, in fear that he might embarrass himself and/or embarrass others.

But no one can fix any problem if he does not admit that there is a problem to begin with. Admitting your weaknesses does not diminish your strengths; it shows your courage.

From my experience, about 50% of young Saudis are actually very good, motivated, talented, showing lots of potential. I have personally enjoyed mentoring and working with them.

But as you look at the older, more senior generations, the percentage of good, effective, ethical, employees actually gets smaller and smaller. I have seen so many senior employees who wastes 90%+ of their time in the office. I have seen managers and leaders who make really poor, unethical decisions that waste billions of $ of the company’s money.

If you have worked for the company, and if you are honest, I think you would agree with this observation.

I think the company’s culture is so poor that overtime the company transforms good, promising young people into ineffective, overpaid, pampered, and very often, unethical, workforce.

There are expats who are not needed, or misplaced, and it’s fair that the company cuts them loose. But there are many expats who have the expertise, skills and experience that the company needs, and who are motivated to do good. The company cannot afford to lose them.

Unless if Pride comes in again and says “No, we don’t have any problem here.”

It's coming. We know of Udhailiyah personnel fired, about 27 already left from oil and gas operations. Last week many Geologists got their notice. They keep it low profile to avoid panic. Undeclared actions initiated. Rumors of a big announcement is live.

Yes, they badly need the expats. The latest inauguration failure underlines the necessity. Things are not good.

W/O expat workforce, Saudi Aramco will sink very deep. Look the Hospital disaster after the Filipinos staff optimization (layoff). Good luck.

You can't make great again that which was never great!!

"make saudi great again". Good luck with that.

Basically if you are an expat and can not honestly say that you have something extraordinary to offer the company, id say you are best off leaving the ship on your own terms before you get chucked headfirst overboard. Goodluck

I hope so. All what I see are negative comments demeaning to us although the expats and US in particular are getting paid more than Saudis. They hold sensitive positions and ensure that they work and provide job security to other US employees.

It's ok for Trump to keep the expats out. But we cannot apparently.

So I want to Make Saudi great Again"

Expect more layoffs around Christmas. There will be multiple waves as opposed to one giant hit in order to make it look less severe.

All that i know that there is a plan and this plan will be implemented quickly so it doesn't affect the environment. I don't think that real numbers will be announced and specially since aramco are good with playing with numbers and statistics

I work in a Division of almost entirely Saudis, there is only ten of us western expats. I have to say most of these Saudi's are sharp and well motivated. There is of course, like in any company or country, a lot of lay abouts.

I've heard a lot of different rumors. The most credible says that 1000+/- western expats will be let go, of which 600 will be US payroll. The other side is that several thousand Saudis will also be let go, but mainly early retirement offers to older Saudis. From what I understand they are targeting folks that are: either close to retirement, high grade codes, or at some time pushed someone the wrong way.

I've also heard that some US payroll are being offered a one year of base salary as an exit. But that to get this you have to sign a paper waiving your searching for any other positions in the company.

Even though I feel fairly secure... I am still planning my exit plan.

Polishing the resume, reaching out on LinkedIn that sort of thing.

As for selling stuff off before you leave... I agree its going to be hard. Its a buyers market.

Expats won't be willing to buy, because they won't know if they are next, and with everyone else selling. Well it will be flooded with cars and furniture soon.

Sell your assets in Saudi very quickly (Cars, motorbike, personal stuff, etc) Do not let them screw you with a cheap offer when the moment will arrive.

Polish your CVs ladies and gents no one is safe here.

I've heard similar rumours about all western expats being replaced by 2018. A pay cut on the cards too I hear.

Somebody*

Also heard IT got notifications last Thursday but haven't received any updates yet.

Any further updates on impacted departments, AAs, nationalities, days to leave kingdom, etc. Last i heard was 280 including finance and engineering services. Also heard that some people r being forced to leave in 10 days! Not so sure about the severance packages being offered. D'oeuvre also said that company is targeting to remove all western expats by 2018.....smh :/

Expats are mercenaries (like the Blackwater guys in the military).

Expats do almost all the work. Depending on where they are placed, some see lots of action, some don't.

Expats gotta take care of themselves. Since the company provides no training opportunities, and no career prospect.

When things go well, expats don't get the glory. Because expats tend to stay in the background; the locals are the face of the organization, internally and externally.

When things go bad, expats get all the blame.

All the company can offer the expats is money and, for those who get to live inside the camp, a good family environment. But when the money runs out.....

As I said before, the worst is yet to come.

Lost a few more today. The expat purge continues.

Anyone who thinks that a company who reserves high performance ratings for Saudis only and has layoff programs for expats only is a company where you have a potential "career" is numb.

It's a job. A job that requires you to do work for your saudi colleagues to track, brainstorm about, hold meetings about, send emails about, pass official letters about, make presentation slides about, and sign off on so that they can list all of the above actions at the end of the year, look very busy, and move on leaving you with the next set of Saudis to keep busy while you stay put. Within 2-3 years most good people fold their hand and move on. After 10 years you're essentially unemployable anywhere else and this is because you stop getting anything done once you enter Saudi Aramco walls. Not worth it. It's a short term filler job until a real job opens up. No better than a contract position in the real world.

I left a stable engineering position to join what I thought was a stable position with Aramco only to be let go. Don't let the lure of a tax free salary and company recruitment hype convince you to move half way around the world to work for Aramco where the corporate structure and culture is shocking.

I would say its not worth the risk! they have little or no consideration for a families situation when making such decisions. you could end up uprooting your life only to end up coming back 3 month later with your tail between your legs.

Is this a good time to start a new job at Aramco in Saudi? Is it a good time to move a family over seas and start a new job with such uncertainties?

@1Svum, your questions are so good that deserve to be in a separate thread, so I took the liberty and copied it in to a new thread.

The next step to me seems to be more Layoffs. there are more than enough highly capable Saudis to fill these roles. $6billion a year on educating 200,000 Saudis a year in top western universities leaves an inspiring youth without jobs! move aside guys and let them take the reigns!

I guess next step will be payroll unification - US, Canadian to Global payroll.

It sounds fairly savage, any ideas of final numbers? I wonder if this is just the tip of the iceberg. With a struggling economy and the fundamentals of the oil market showing no sign of changing anytime soon, my guess would be more redundancies to come!

So many questions about these layoffs...

Are laid off American expats eligible for any kind of unemployment benefits in the US until they can find a new job?

What benefits are the laid off employees eligible for?

Can health insurance be extended into time after actual employment ends?

Is there a severance benefit specific to the ELP other than the standard Aramco severance payment?

Are there other benefits in the ELP not yet discussed?

Thanks to anyone with answers to these questions...

Any layoff today?

This week was a bloodbath. Is it over or will they stretch it to the end of the month?

We are hearing that after today it is over for the expats, at least for awhile.

Once a man asked another, what would you do, if a lion appears in jungle and you are alone. Man replied: 'what can I do, all will be done by the lion'... so whatever happens, nothing you can do, or can you?..In this case Aramco is a lion. . Enjoy the moments, be grateful and play with your kids. If it happens to you, checkout gracefully. . It was all meant to be...

whats the latest on the ground?

But if they cut the benefits too much, then expats will start leaving for other countries in the region or they country of origin.

With all layoffs they normally come in waves. I'd say this is the first with more to come in the new year :( . A cut to Benefits does not seem unlikely. Most majors have introduced staff pay cuts.

Expat Engineer

Similarly to Expat Aramco Employee I am waiting for the bomb to drop but when it does I will do it in a professional manner. I had really good 2 years in Saudi Arabia and learnt a lot about the local culture, customs and religion. I was involved in some mega projects here and am happy that my expertise could contribute to the growth of Saudi Aramco and Kingdom, as well as professional development of some young Saudi employees. I wish all the best to you all in those challenging times.

I am an expat employee of the company. I have worked in several countries and when push come to shove, I have seen people being laid off time and again. So this is not just Saudi. Truth to be told, This company have sustained so much so far. And I don't see any thing wrong, if company is letting go the people. All companies do so... They are not only letting go Expat, but Saudi, if they are not performing too well. I will be ready to leave, without complain, when my turn comes. This has been an honour to work for the company.

Aramco, like any other company, is not a perfect company and no one claimed that...Also, Saudis are not angels and they are like any nationality, there are productive people, unproductive people, and those who are in the middle.

The topic is about lay off and in specific expats...so stick to it without using it as a platform to spewing your racism and hatred against Saudis or Saudi Arabia.

Simply, if you have a high moral and you do not like it here, do not be a hypocrite and get the hell out to your heaven country...and leave the company and country to us and we solve our own problems sooner or later...with our own efforts.

I heard 350 have been cut so far, with 350 more to be laid off in the near future, bringing the total to 700 expats.

Then someone told me that 250 Saudis are also on the chopping block, But I found it hard to believe.

Over heard this in the coffee room: "We need Trump in Saudi to keep the expats out. Make Saudi great Again"