Job Discussion Forums

[Sir Gawain]

Seems to me that everyone in the hallways are ruminating about leaving the chicken coop for better feed! Rumours had been flying around UGRU about possible jobs in other ME countries with pay that actually reflects today's economy. Would anyone like to confirm?

Sir Gawain

[scot47]

Meanwhile in other parts of the ME the word is that jobs at UGRU are wonderful !

Truly, the grass is greener over the hill.

[Gnocchiman]

Sir Gawain, what hallways are you hanging out in? The rumor in the hallways I frequent at UGRU is one of a significant pay raise in the very near future. And where in the ME are these people thinking about going? Really, I'm curious. From what I've read on this forum and from people I know working all over the Gulf, I don't see much better than UGRU out there, to be honest. The grass is pretty green where I'm standing.

[Ka-CHING!]

Gnocchi,

A significant pay rise? Do tell!

[Gnocchiman]

Ka-ching!, The problem with rumors is that they never give details and this one is no different. I'm hearing things like "all government employees are getting raises soon" and "because the Dirham is pegged to the Dollar, they have to raise the salaries because the Brits are really taking a beating" things like that. I don't have exact figures, but I know in the past when raises were given at UGRU, people were very happy with them. I promise if I hear any exact numbers mentioned, I'll let you know!

Going back to the original post, I'm really not hearing things like "I'm leaving this coop for the Bahraini promise land" or "Oman! Yep, there's gold in them thar hills." But, to be fair, there are a lot of teachers at UGRU and I certainly don't know them all and what money problems they might be having. I'm still curious as to what other jobs they are looking at in the ME-is there better money, living and working conditions out there (all in one package)? I looked long and hard before taking this job and I'm still convinced I won the "EFL Lottery". Maybe things have changed. Please let me know.

[whatgoesaround]

[Stephen Jones]

[playtapus]

UGRU sucks. It's all a facade.

Since UGRU started in 1990, only one raise has ever been given. In the fall of 1998, for the first time UGRU couldn't hire enough new teachers. HCT had always had substantially higher salaries, and that fall, Zayed had just opened offering salaries equivalent to HCT. In the fall of 1999, UGRU upped their salary range to about 2,000 - 4,000 dirhams a month more than what the current teachers were making. We were told in the spring that we would be given raises in the fall 'but not to be upset if the raises weren't as much as the new people were making.' September came and went, no raises. Every month we were told, it'll definately come next month, and it will definately be backdated to September. Well, the raise didn't come until April, and it wasn't backdated. My raise was one of the highest given. Were we happy? Hardly. Morale was at an all time low, even lower than the previous all time lows. Of course, the extra money was appreciated, but by my estimates, the university cheated me out of over 19,000 dirhams by not backdating our raises.

Meanwhile, had I been at HCT, my salary would have been approximately 2,500 dirhams a month more than I was getting at UGRU even with the raise. HCT gives standard yearly increments, UGRU doesn't. Some of those teachers who came in at top salaries in 1999, are making exactly the same now. Most teachers who were given raises in April of 2000, are making exactly the same now.

If raises are given at UGRU now, they will not be significant because the starting salary is still competitive with other universities in the UAE. If you are coming for the long haul and expect to save money, you are better off at HCT or Zayed. After two or three years, inflation eats away at your saving capacity if you stay at UGRU. Management doesn't care what is happening to the dollar or how much money you can save. As long as they can recruit and teachers stay, they have no reason to give you more money.

[Ka-CHING!]

Like Gnocchi, I've been very satisfied with the financial aspects of working at UGRU.

What I hear in the hallways is that the salaries at HCT are indeed higher, but you have to work much harder for your money. The life-work balance at UGRU is more agreeable. My grass is nice and green, too.