Thread regarding Saudi Aramco layoffs

You might save, what $20-30K per year in tax savings if you are lucky. You then will need to pay for higher living costs, expat taxes, and regular trips out of the region to keep sane. Never forget everything costs $ here. Add to that zero advancement or promotion opportunities, this is a dead end. Only apply if you are unemployed.

On the financial side, factor in the tax savings. Nothing much going on there too, so less expenses. Don't count on the severance pay yet, there's a good chance you will get laid off before it kicks in. Now for your career, mental and physical health, it will all go to sheeaits!

Ask yourself, what amount is enough to compensate for the damage?

haha would you take a cut like that at home? Then it’s an insulting offer and not worth consideration. Move on.

Severance package was basically destroyed in 2021. After 5 years you will get just 2.5 months of base pay. Yes you read that right, 2 weeks per year.

Also if you leave before end of year two you get zip.

After 5years it increases at a rate of 1 months base per year…

So after 10 years graft you still will only receive 7.5 months base salary package. It’s a bad deal!

Sorry, I meant 20 months base.

$ 20k severance after 5 years???
I'm part of the Covid contingent and got $20k after 5 1/2 years.

They sure have fallen far. That’s a terrible offer.

Does Latin America still make up a large proportion of the E&P expat hires? Was just starting to dominate when I retired.

More than likely they will terminate you after 3 months or 6 months.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-022-00514-6

Not natural desert dust. If you have preexisting respiratory symptoms like asthma it will be tough going. If you don’t you can get used to the runny nose, coughing, and odors both petro and the rare days of wind from the SW that brings in the putrid odors from unregulated industrial waste dumps near Abqaiq and Dmm industrial city 2. No air quality regulations are enforced.

What's with the toxic air comments? Lots of dust, because its in the desert. Everyone I know survived it, and I was out there for 20 years.

Some people join Aramco not necessarily for the money but because they are either seeking escape, running or hiding from something or someone...admittedly all very similar.

agree that the offer is quite low but in line with recent cost cutting...OP - you never mentioned where you are joining from? Assume it is the west as any eastern expat would probably jump on this offer. Good luck with whatever you decide but I would probably pass...

Real operators laugh at the supposed “Aramcon” good luck with that on your CV.

Hahaha, that is funny. Never thought they’d actually lowball like that. Sign of the times I guess. They’ll fill the role, someone will bite.

It shows you that they dont vlue western experts anymore. Its a job if yoi need one. Dont be surprised if they terminate you by the probation period. Not worth it to live in a dirty desert with toxic air,

What Grade Code (GC) are they offering you? Anything less than a GC15 will result in being treated as a lackey by the more senior employees. From the salary mentioned above, my guess is you are being offered a GC12 (possibly GC13) . The GC15+ annual bonus is significantly better.

Stay where you are. Don't go! Unless you are unemployed...
And listen, your salary is $85,380, period! Not worth the move. The other things you are adding are not going to be there by the time you get there. Let's see...
Benefits Supplement: 20.0% $17,076???? who knows what this really is
Target Bonus 15.0% $11,807????? Don't trust anything that says target...
Annual Travel Allowances: $3,732???? Today, this is what you spend on an online ticket (good deal) that allows you to travel with a carry-on only... out of that region

Aramco does not pay for dependents Iqama cost. It will cost you around $5,000 for 3 dependents per annum.

Indeed - miserable existence for way below average pay / package...not worth it unless one is absolutely desperate with no prospects at all, which is pretty much most of the recent new hires profile most unfortunately. "You get what you pay for...." fundamental wisdom !

Yes, that vacation policy confuses da-n near everyone. Just not a common way to go about it, so it comes as a surprise. Also, I 'feel' that working in IT at Aramco, as a westerner, would be a miserable existence.

Be sure you understand the vacation/leave policy. 38 vacation days a year plus 4 travel days for North America. But keep in mind these are calendar days so weekends days are counted as vacation days.In order to get the first weekend on vacation, you have to work one day the week prior to departure. The policy is you need to work one day a week to earn the weekend. Most people return from leave on Wednesdays and report to work Thursday so they don’t get the next weekend counted as leave days.

Good Lord ! packages have shrunk ! What payroll is that ? - must be Global... I'll say - not worth you while unless 200k offered total. Also I won't count bonus and travel allowances these are yet to be earned... + no stability, toxicity and rising cost of living and penalties make it unattainable, let alone being attractive like it was 30 years ago !

Lots of young Saudi IT graduates.

They probably need you to work on some current high profile IT project and then lay you off when it is over.

Locals pretty much make up the regular IT staff.

I would not recommend Aramco to anyone. Plus the pay is not attractive anymore.

Be sure to ask the recruiter about the hypothetical tax and tax equalization. It is a payroll deduction that is suppose to be the tax you would have paid if you had lived and worked in the USA the full year. To us in Saudi Arabia, it was just a reduction in pay since it can’t be claimed on your actual tax return

Also consider the 6 month probationary period that allows your department to fire you without cause. This is not really fair to employees who have relocated their life to the Middle East. And if you are able to survive for a few years, the company ask that you provide 60-90 days notice to leave. The exit process may have been improved but I think the notice period is still the same. It is more difficult to find a new job when you require a new employer to wait a couple months to report for work.

That is the income side. How about the expenses: Government fees for dependents, travel costs, other costs?

One of my strangest costs was maintaining a US mailing address for all those things that could not be mailed to you while overseas. Another thing was the cost of renting a car when you did not have US car insurance.

Agree with the person who told you to tell them what you need to make the move and decide from there. Think about the costs of moving and resettling back in your home country as well, because job stability, as you've heard already, isn't a thing anymore. They just laid off something like 800+ people (give or take?) between August and December of last year.

So they may not extend the contact after 5 years then?

I'm not sure if you can still rely on the bonuses and allowances. It seems they unilaterally reduce these recently. Job stability can also be an issue. IT people seem to be the first to go every time we hear about layoffs. There's a good chance you will not make it to 5 years. I would only consider the base and overbase, these are solid thus far. If they offer 25% more, then probably give it a thought. Anything less should be an easy "no, thank you".

Exactly you have been warned but go anyway. Good luck

Sure, tell them what you need to make the move. They will of course counter with something less. Do the dance, play the game, be prepare to walk. But do not rely on promises of future bumps or incentives. Get it going in because you won't get it later. Also, IT at Aramco may be an extremely difficult place to have a career. So, beware...you have been warned.