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Post by canadaguy on Sept 8, 2017 16:51:56 GMT
I was offered and accepted a position on family status about 6 weeks ago and am currently going through the visa process. I was however informed yesterday that Aramco has just changed their policy on housing allowance and they have now eliminated the accountable portion of it, for me this means a 60% decrease in the housing allowance. I've looked online and the options available for what I can get under the lowered amount aren't great. It's really disappointing that they have made such a massive change to the policy, even to those who has already been offered something else. I am completely reconsidering even going now as part of the draw was the fact that even though we had to live in the community the allowance would have at least afforded us a nice place in a good location. It also makes me wonder what other changes are in the pipeline.
Anyone else affected by this, what are your thoughts on it?
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Post by lonelyplanet on Sept 8, 2017 20:43:56 GMT
Does it affect the new hire only or all the people on family status who are getting housing allowance? Does anyone know?
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Post by canadaguy on Sept 9, 2017 5:54:25 GMT
From what I was told this affects anyone who is on family status not yet in country. For example I have an accepted offer and was going through the visa process, they have not grandfathered me in. Also, they said anyone already in country on Bachelor status won't get the additional allowance if they were planning to switch to family status at a later stage. So the only ones grandfathered in are those already in county on family status, at lease for now.
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Post by teeboy12 on Sept 24, 2017 18:37:22 GMT
Yes, if you were not on Family Status prior to August 1st, 2017 you'd be on the new housing allowance.
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Post by lonelyplanet on Sept 25, 2017 20:29:57 GMT
It seems that for the newcomers, I guess the allowance won't be enough to pay the rental for a family if you have kids.
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Post by muddyoil on Sept 27, 2017 2:12:35 GMT
Yes.. would be a very difficult task to get a house/apartment in a good compound with 3x basic salary (unaccountable housing allowance). I am wondering what impact would this bring to the compound housing prices in the Dammam region.
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Post by canadaguy on Sept 29, 2017 9:03:43 GMT
*update* I have officially rejected the position now because of this. It was a redline for me and my family. I think stripping away something that was already offered shows a lack of integrity and I would have had serious concerns about what other changes are on the horizon.
Best of luck to all.
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Post by adamsy on Sept 29, 2017 10:15:22 GMT
o,
sorry to hear. I recently received an offer with a 3x base housing allowance. For families with children who are used to staying in big houses, this is a deal breaker indeed. To begin with, the offerered base and job grade are lower than what they have been offering until last year.
Just a few months ago they used to offer $65k+ for housing allowance. This is very unfortunate and unfair that they think they can treat newly hired staff differently. I found out other benefits have been cut recently, and this has been the trend. Add to that the monthly fees per dependent that was recently introduced.
As much as I wanted to work for Aramco, this is not giving me a good feeling. I am leaning towards declining the offer.
When you rejected the offer, were they not willing to negotiate on housing allowance or base salary?
all the best!
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Post by Canadian CH E on Oct 2, 2017 4:38:38 GMT
Can you please help me understand this change?
I've been thinking time for a family of 5 we would get something like $66 K USD.
Is this no longer the case? Does this apply to everyone?
What is the new system?
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Post by Canadian CH E on Oct 2, 2017 4:47:09 GMT
Canadaguy,
How did they tell you this? Were you contacted after clearing medical and BI? No one has told me this from Aramco Services, yet....
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Post by canadaguy on Oct 2, 2017 20:23:47 GMT
I was called and told this a few weeks back while going through the visa process.
I don’t think this had any impact on Americans.
I would suggest you get some advice from your contact at ASC. It is a big change which would cut the housing benefit to 3 months base pay only.
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Post by Canadian CH E on Oct 3, 2017 0:23:41 GMT
Very interesting. This gives me pause even if it doesn't impact me. Seems to indicate that they don't have an issue with pulling benefits once they've agreed to them. I had a similar situation with my end-of-service benefits. They change them back in June to a radically different program. Do you know if this change is perhaps related to salary grade?
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Post by canadaguy on Oct 3, 2017 7:24:07 GMT
Not sure if is related to grade level or not.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2017 8:07:40 GMT
Hi,
I read something about the housing allowance in the forum, but I would like more informations.
Currently I'm waiting all the documents need to my Visa, but I accepted the economic proposal in April 2017.
I wrote to my Expatriate Relocation Advisor about the new proposal for housing allowance, but she wrote my that they will applicate all that they indicate in the "Net Earnings&Benefits Worksheets" document.
In this document they wrote for RAA 59.900$ (family status + 2 children).
Somebody knows if it is correct or I will have a reduction RAA benefit?
Thanks.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2017 5:36:51 GMT
Somebody helps me?
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