Job Discussion Forums

[Gulezar]

If a woman works at HCT Abu Dhabi, and her spouse works in Abu Dhabi, which schools would not allow for double dipping on the housing allowance ... Zayed, PI, ECAE, Adveti, others? Which schools would give both spouses a housing allowance?

[veiledsentiments]

In the past they have been very effective in weeding out anyone who attempts to double dip. The only people that I know who got away with it were those where the husband works for an international company and was able to get an allowance deposited with his salary abroad rather than getting provided housing. Then the wife had a full benefit package from one of the universities.

If both are in education? I'd say not a chance. They aren't stupid and they love to deny any benefit they can get away with...

VS

[helenl]

And they will find out. As VS said, there have been a cases where not only have they been caught, but they've clawed back every dirham and fil possible.

Doesn't do much for your performance appraisal either as your contract specifically states you are NOT allowed to double dip.

[Eisenhorn]

I've never heard of it if both the husband and wife work in the same emirate for universities.

I have heard of it when the husband works in one emirate and the wife works in another emirate if they are over 100 KM apart.

[helenl]

True Eisenhorn - the only case I ever knew was one teacher was in Abu Dhabi and the other in Fujairah. They got accomodation, but not double tickets or other allowances.

[veiledsentiments]

[helenl]

I've had the argument with people who worked at separate organizations (one education and the other in the private sector, not education) and they were appalled that HCT would not provide full benes (housing, tickets, etc.) that were also covered by the spouse's employer. The fact that they were in the same city didn't seem to be a factor in their reasoning process - after all both employers could afford it.

I've also (as Devil's advocate ) had the discussion with an HCT colleague that he was in fact being compensated more than I because he was married and had children - he gets a higher housing allowance, tickets for his family (up to the 3 dependent limit) education allowances etc. While I did the same job as him and didn't get the extras.

I know that this is done here because otherwise it would be difficult to attract qualified applicants who have families.

But in North America, we would be paid the same no matter if he had a family to support or not. It was an interesting discussion that resolved absolutely nothing.