Job Discussion Forums

[brasscat]

This post has only one function: Give people the facts and warn people.

The brasscat is no unememployable loser, as the University apologists would like to think. I have a new postion already lined up for much higher pay. Soon life will be nicer.

Fact: The University has officially welched on the payment of overtime to Al-Falak employees for work performed over the last 2 months.
The worked performed was: writing tests (finals), monitoring the finals, and grading over 400 tests in 36 hours.

Fact: One direct hire of UOH refused to perform his duty and did not report for test monitoring duties(A course coordinator!)

Fact: After 5 months, Iqcamas have not been obtained for any contract employees. Nice to be second class employees.

Fact: Average class size for level 2 teachers is: 25-28.

Fact: 5 people have quit since January 2007.

Fact: Some of the direct hires do not even have a college diploma.

Fact: There was a public beheading in Hail City 10 days ago.
Great family entertainment!
Fact: Even the students say in private, the place stinks.

Now a word from our favorite UOH apologists, they want to tell you how great it is. Of course they have it comfy, they are the problem causers.

[Stephen Jones]

[cassava]

So brasscat is leaving Hail; I wonder if his new emplyer realizes the blunder he has made by hiring him. Brasscat is unhappy that there was a public execution in Hail. In the USA, they fry people in the electric chair or else they strap them to a bed and poison them. In these cases, the process of dying is an agonizing one. Does brasscat prefer the American forms of capital punishment?

The notion, presented by brasscat, that teachers are paid overtime for setting and marking tests is a patent lie. This has never happened at the University of Hail because such duties are part of the normal requirements of the job of a teacher. Brasscat is either naive or he is a fool to believe otherwise. In addition, only someone who is simpleminded would believe that the university has hired teachers who do not have college degrees. This qualification is a BASIC requirement for the job.

If, after five months, Al-Falak has not obtained iquamas for its teachers, then brasscat should address his complaint to the recruiter, not the university. By the way, anybody who has worked in Saudi would quickly realize that Saudi authorities do not allow this state of affairs to take place and that brasscat's statement is a lie.

Brasscat moans about increased class sizes and teachers quitting. Even if these statements are true, SO WHAT? The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence until one realizes that it is artificial grass. Furthermore, people who are not real professionals will often quit at the drop of a hat. When I was a TEFL supervisor, I usually gave them the boot before they had a chance to quit.

Brasscat's other gripes are trivial and, I suspect, the usual exaggerations. In addition, his statement that students think that Hail "stinks" is merely a reflection of brasscat's doltish mentality. Little does he know that many Arab students will simply state what they think a teacher wants them to say.

I know from experience that, at the University of Hail, there are a few older teachers who delight in regaling new teachers with all sorts of wild, concocted stories and bizarre scenarios. When such men stumble across a parrot like brasscat, they will make him believe anything while ridiculing him behind his back.

As I said in an earlier post, my reaction to brasscat's incredible naivete and singleminded dimwittedness has changed from contempt to pity. I have absolutely no doubt that he will be just as unhappy in his next job.

[Stephen Jones]

You do neither your employer nor yourself any favors cassava by being so acerbic.

[cassava]

I have said that I am FAMILIAR WITH the situation at the University of Hail. I have never said that I worked there. I know some fine people who are instructors at this institution and their disgust at the rantings of the brasscats of this world is just as strong as mine. I have no problem with people expressing their views in compelling terms as long as they do not distort the truth and as long as they behave in a professional manner. The danger posed by brasscat is that he can negatively affect good teachers who might be swayed by his "facts" and consequently do not judge the university in a fair and impartial manner. Those of us who detect lies and concoctions have a duty to condemn them as forcefully as possible.

[brasscat]

Fact: There was a rather nasty unprofessional fight in front of 6 witnesses.
Seems attacking a teacher is a common practice. It seems it is
the perpatrator's third fight in 2 months. The attacker is a
teacher.

So much for direct hire ethical standards.

Fact: At the Mishar housing complex resides an ambulance with a dead
battery and no driver.

Oh well, it is only your life, who cares?

Fact: Did you ever hear about the teacher who plays with his pulled teeth
in front of a crowd? Yes, only at UOH is the entertainment free.

Fact: Three elevator failures in 2 months. New fun way to miss classes.


Please Mr. Company Man tell me how distorted the truth is.

There are many stories in the desert, you have just read one.

[Stephen Jones]

[cassava]

If Brasscat is telling the truth, he has a duty to report these incidents to the relevant authorities at the University of Hail. I presume that channels of communication exist at the university.

In addition, complaints posted on this forum should be of a fairly serious nature. The failure of an elevator and a teacher's idiosyncratic facial mannerisms do not fall in this category.

Apart from Brasscat, I have not seen many complaints from other teachers of this university. However, if the numerous complaints posted by Brasscat reflect situations which have been repeatedly ignored by the upper administration of the university, then teachers should appeal to the Rector of KFUPM who still has some residual control over the University of Hail which was once a college of KFUPM.

[Stephen Jones]

[scot47]

Word down the bazaar is that Brasscat has been fired. Comments ? Confirmation ?

[Stephen Jones]

Perhaps he could apply for a job as an ambulance driver!

[KSA-UK]

...or as a dentist!

[brasscat]

The brasscat is still here at UOH, typing away in room 204.

Decided to forego the 9 AM shopping bus and go into Hail via taxi today.

I plan to leave in June. The mid-term exams in the new test hall was a hoot. Just think no overtime for grading all these exams. Too bad. I'll work on it next Saturday.

Cheers!

[veiledsentiments]

Where in the world does anyone get paid overtime for grading exams? No educational institution anywhere in the world that I have ever been or known of...

Some teachers have odd expectations...

VS

[brasscat]

If you are a direct hire of the UOH, you are right no overtime is possible.

If you are a contract employee, i.e. Al-Falak, yes there is overtime. UOH is the client, but the employer is Al-Falak. In the contract work hours are specified clearly, and so are the rates for overtime and what it comprises.

In the Al-Falak contract, any work after regular hours and weekends (Thursday and Friday) are in fact billable overtime. 160 hours/month is regular time, by contract definition. After that any activity directly related to university business is overtime at $45/hour.

Yes, grading tests on the weekend is a billable matter, by written contract.

Now, we have the issue of UOH refusing to honor the written contracts, it agreed to, and properly pay Al-Falak contract employees their overtime.

UOH owes me $1100 US in unpaid billable overtime.

Of course you can always be a direct hire and work anytime you wish for cheap.

brasscat