Job Discussion Forums

[Tazz]

Does anybody have any info about the National holiday in November? Rumors [deluded dreaming I'd call it] wee that college staff would get a full week off..would just like some notification regarding when.

[madrileno]

From what I've heard so far, the HCTs will get a four-day long weekend at the end of November, (28th-1st). This is because the midterms coincide with the actual date of National Day on the 18th.

[Tazz]

That would be nice.....after all-two days are better than one!

[veiledsentiments]

Unless things have changed, they don't tell you when National Day break will be until the day before the break. That is because if they say it is next Wednesday - all the Omanis disappear to their villages starting the preceding Sunday. I remember once that the time of the break wasn't announced until almost a week after National Day. How long it is varies from year to year. The unpredictability of breaks was the most frustrating part of my years there. I quit even trying to plan trips out of the country.

VS

[MuscatGary]

I agree with Madrileno. My Ministry contacts tell me that they've been told the 30th November and 1st December will be tagged onto the weekend to make it a four day break.

[Whatever will be]

I have heard that the HTC's will get Wednesday, 26 and Thursday, 27th November to celebrate National Day.

The confusion and uncertainty makes it impossible to plan an overseas trip.

The lack of information really sucks

[MuscatGary]

[veiledsentiments]

[Whatever will be]

Its essential to enjoy the relatively few days-off in Oman (compared to other countries) to keep the ex-pat workforce on side.

Inability to adequately plan holidays upsets ex-pats and adds to the decision to leave, which ought to concern the country as the high turn-around creates unrest, a loss of tangible knowledge and instability in the workforce.

If the Omanis can't handle their own people, then at least they should inform the ex-pat community and keep it 'mysterious' to their mob.

But then again, following a logic line of reasoning and implementing a sensible approach to managing their human resources is not part of the Omani skill set.

Can't wait to get out of this disorganized, uncaring, irrational place.

[veiledsentiments]

You seem to be under the delusion that any government actually cares about your relaxation time. It has always been obvious to me that mine never cared about mine... so why would I expect some foreign country to care?

Not to mention that any way I counted it, I had double (or more) the paid holidays in Oman as I did working in the US.

But... whatever... if it is so important to you, leaving is your best option.

VS

[MuscatGary]

Lack of holidays has never been an issue in Oman, there's at least 15 public holidays which are usually extended (e.g. National Day will actually be two days. In addition and depending on your employer/job up to 60 annual leave days. In the UK there are only 8 public holidays! Annual leave is usually less than 60 days too. I believe in the US it's even worse. Now the disorganization is another matter entirely and could be a genuine reason to walk away...

[Whatever will be]

@ VeiledSentiment
Any sensible human resource management ensures adequate rest and recreation for their workforce to prevent ill health and burn out.

@ MuscatGarry
Well, at the place where I work it's only 30 days annual leave plus a few public holidays here and there.

[spiral78]

[veiledsentiments]

[1st Sgt Welsh]

I've got no real complaints about the amount of holiday time that I get here, or the amount of public holidays, but, I agree that not knowing what days the national holidays will fall on until the last moment is a pain in the neck.