Job Discussion Forums

[sheikher]

Try "successfully mismanage".

[Linguist]

... 'successfully failed' (managing) the world�s largest English language programme.

Causes?

[desert_traveller]

what gives you guys this idea of failure on bell's behalf? as far as i know they are doing pretty well, they have a huge contract, they are fairly stable and they are making tons of money

where exactly is the 'failure' in that?

or is it that some people just want to see them fail or are simply jealous of their success?

there are issues with bell, just like anywhere else, but failure? that's just wishful thinking on behalf of some disgruntled individuals (which is quite sad, in my humble opinion)

[sheikher]

This little item here may be revealing. http://obrag.org/?p=20423

With respect to the item's paragraph 12: There were also quite long exchanges about teacher�s rights under Saudi labor law and whether a Saudi company (Obekan) had the right to demand employee�s passports (Obekan did, and everyone who signed a contract with Bell complied.). Unfortunately, no one could say anything definitive about these issues.

Herewith let it be known:

A recent decree by the Saudi Council of Ministers explicitly provides that an alien employee is entitled to keep his travel documents and the travel documents of his family. The employee also has the right to travel anywhere in Saudi Arabia without showing documentation, which was previously required. [footnote #85]

85. Mohamed Y. Mattar, �Trafficking in persons, especially women and children, in countries of the Middle East: the scope of the problem and the appropriate legislative responses�, Fordham International Law Journal, vol. 26, No. 3 (2003), pp. 729 ff. Saudi Arabia, Council of Ministers Decision No. 166 of 12/7/1421 AH regulating relations between migrant workers and their employers further stipulates as follows:
Employers shall not retain the passports of migrant workers or the passports of members of their families. Migrant workers shall be entitled to freedom of movement within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia provided that they hold a valid residence permit. Migrant workers may apply to governmental and other bodies to avail themselves of the services needed to ensure a decent life for themselves and their families, such as the issuance of driving licenses, the purchase of motor vehicles, telephone connections etc., without being obliged to obtain the consent of their employers. The term �sponsor� shall be invalid wherever it appears and shall be replaced by the term �employer�.
The Decision also makes provision for the establishment of a special committee to resolve any problems arising from its application (see �National report submitted in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1: Saudi Arabia� (A/HRC/WG.6/4/SAU/1)).


http://www.unodc.org/documents/human-trafficking/Islamic_Law_TIP_E_ebook_18_March_2010_V0985841.pdf

[teach star]

It's true teachers are routinely asked to work a 6th day in a week, invigilating an exam or teaching 'remedial' classes. Why 'remedial classes'? Because the student registration process and placement process was such a mess that it took several weeks, so a significant number of students didn't start coursework on time and got behind. So the teachers had to work extra hours to clean up the mess.
There is a provision in the contract for occasional extra hours, but when there are groups of new teachers who are seen day after day sitting and doing nothing, those who are teaching full hours and asked to work extra feel the situation is unfair.
There are new resignations and will continue to be more resignations. It is not a nice place to work. Bell is an equal partner with Obeikan and despite trying to project a 'nice guy' image to teachers, they take their profits and in effect condone everything Obeikan does. Bell led teachers to believe that they would be able to apply for annual leave in February and April when the students don't have classes. But now, Obeikan's new leave policy, announced in October, says teachers cannot apply for this leave. Bell has done nothing to address this.
The high day-to-day stress levels are caused by things like:
-excessive tedium: too many forms, extra requirements continuing to be piled on
-last-minute, unnanounced meetings cutting into planning time
-punitive HR practices. E.g.-one day "unexcused absence" results in 2 or more days of confiscated pay
-unresponsive management

[Linguist]

[scot47]

The Arabic expression to describe this sort of statement is crisp and eloquent

"Kalam Fadhi" (= "EMPTY WORDS")

http://www.unodc.org/documents/human-trafficking/Islamic_Law_TIP_E_ebook_18_March_2010_V0985841.pdf

(Correctd)

[Al-Mansoor]