Job Discussion Forums

[Mysterious]

[milliman]

Well i have been in contact with a friend that works for ICEAT in KSU.
he said the company is ok to work for it is slightly better than EdEx as EdEX apparently have a lot of teachers that walk out on the whole. Where as ICEAT very few walk out.
He said you do get paid on time and usually before the 1st of the month. Apart from a few mistakes with money it always gets rectified.

He said one problem its the end of the month of February and they still have not been given their Iqamas or their Business Visa. When I asked him why he said that apparently the visas or Iqamas where sent to the country of origin such as Canada or States. I asked why he said they don't know. New teachers has arrived he said and they are looking younger and looking in experienced. which he does not care

but what is bothering him is the sheer stupidity in sending the Visas or Iqamas outside of the Kingdom. one if his colleagues is worried that if they go on holiday they might not send him a return visa from the UK. Also a lot of teachers are without family and are worried about things. this is one reason why some teachers are considering a lot of their options. He did say as a whole its a pleasant company to work for and if the iqama issue gets sorted he would recommend people to come along

what is amazing is when will these teachers who are stuck their get their iqama's at least because its almost mid semester and almost end of the school year?

[Mysterious]

You are spot on. Apart from the iqama issue, it is a good company to work for. Even in regards to payment... we were worried with that their financial problems would affect the pay but it didn't, so far so good, all payments have been on time.

I think the pay day is meant to be on the 1st of every month, but they give it on the 25th or 26 of every month (earlier, not later) so that people do not struggle financially.

As for the iqama.. sigh.. it's a HUGE frustration and is really letting the company down! We figured the reason why they're sending the paperwork back and forth is because they can't afford to send each teacher back to their home countries.

And I know that the authorities were rejecting medical examinations that were done outside of the country and now they all have to be done within the country somehow. And that part hasn't even been done yet.. ! Could be at least another month, I suspect...

[oddyknocky85]

I am currently working for KSU with ICEAT. They are recruiting again, so I felt I should update this thread for anyone looking to work for this company. I have been with the company for a couple of years now, and will be them for another year because it makes financial sense for me. However, ICEAT has some grave problems you should be aware of. Needless to say, I have dealt with my share of frustrations, although others have certainly dealt with far more. I will enumerate the problems simply and with minimal personal commentary so that you can make up your own mind.

First and probably most importantly, ICEAT is simply not able to provide iqamas and work visas for everyone. This year, despite repeated promises and insha'allahs, a sizable number of teachers still have not received an iqama or a work visa. They have been waiting since last September and are still illegal aliens in this country. Last year was no different. (EdEx, on the other hand, the other company that works with KSU has provided iqamas swiftly for all of their employees. EdEx has its own problems, but since I dont work for them, Im not qualified to speak on that.)

ICEAT makes certain promises in the contract and in the invitational packet that they do not even pretend to keep once you are here. For instance, they promise to help you find housing in Riyadh. They don't have a real estate agent. They have no leads. Their idea of help is to say, "Go and ask other teachers." Another example is that the contract gives two start dates, one in August and one when you actually arrive. ICEAT will decide which one to hold you to, not you.

ICEAT is not able to get teachers out of the country in a timely fashion for emergencies. One colleague of ours had to rush back to the UK when his mother entered the hospital in critical condition. ICEAT, despite repeated promises and insha'allahs and multiple trips to the airport, did not allow him to leave the country for over a week. They were trying to avoid paying a fine because he was illegal. This is how they operate.

ICEAT does not properly reimburse every employee for their airfare home and return. They give you a set allowance based on their calculations of ticket prices to your home country and back. By the time you actually purchase the ticket(s) and factor in where you actually live, the price often ends up being more than their allowance. Despite their contractual obligation to completely cover your flights, they will not make up the difference.

ICEAT has very poor communication. Phone calls and emails are often ignored. Personal visits to their HR branch at KSU are often laughable. Reps rarely have concrete answers to questions. Often their answers contradict each other. Almost always they make promises which never come true (many employees have taken to calling the company ICHEAT). One HR representative on campus will not even acknowledge your presence other than to jerk his thumb at the other door because he does not want to deal with you.

ICEAT keeps your passport and does not honor requests for you to have it back unless they approve you to leave the country.

ICEAT has failed to successfully facilitate several employees bringing over their families to live with them here in Riyadh, with the result that men who planned on being parted from their families for a month or two at most have not seen their wife and children for almost a year now.

ICEAT usually does pay on time. One month they were late. However, the real problem is that the salaries are often incorrect for multiple employees every month, who generally have to wait another month for the salary that was not given to them.

ICEAT does not have a policy of offering raises to returning teachers. This is something they seem to only offer when it is in their interests to do so. They have not done so for the last couple of years. The result is often that the incoming teachers (especially the ones who come late in the year when ICEAT needs them most) are offered higher salaries than equally qualified people who have been working for the company over a year.

ICEAT often hires people with fake degrees who can barely speak the language. So you will have to work with many of these charlatans for your colleagues (it does make for some unique entertainment though!).

ICEAT does not always respect its Muslim employees. Recently, a memo went out from the company that freely-growing beards and pants ending above the ankles were unprofessional and not allowed. They retracted this after some Muslim teachers rightly complained. However, the company generally demonstrates a lack of consideration for its employees as people and this was a clear example.

Finally, ICEAT messed up many people's vacations this year. After assuring everyone that our requested vacations were approved and that we could all go ahead and purchase our flights, hotel reservations, etc. for our summer plans, they recently changed all of that. Now, many teachers are having to take a June holiday instead of a July holiday, with the result that they are having to cancel personal plans (I have a friend unable to attend a wedding now and another who will be missing his wife's birthday).

In short, this company is far from professional and you will suffer many a headache while working for them. The plus side is that the pay is good and KSU requires you to work very little, although as an academic institution, do not expect KSU to support you professionally. The students are in charge of the university. For example, two years ago, the students actually physically assaulted the English department dean after the final exams were too difficult and thus effected his resignation. If they do not want to learn English, you will have no power to teach them. KSU English teachers do not give grades to their classes and have no authority to control the classroom. It is a zoo, in all honesty. But a zoo in which you only "work" for three-four hours a day.

There are certainly pros and cons to this job and this company, this country and this lifestyle. I just thought it fair to lay it out for anyone considering whether it is for them. There are certainly better companies and jobs in the kingdom, many with higher pay. I have stayed here because my family is settled here and it makes sense for me. Others may want to look around more before making a decision.

[jammex88]

How is the housing situation? I have an offer (although no contract yet) with ICEAT and it says housing is provided. I am curious what it is like.

If I get an allowance, how much would one need in Riyadh to live decent (middle class, western style)?

[oddyknocky85]

The housing situation with ICEAT is a small hotel suite in the Al-Hamra area of Riyadh. It's about 30-45 minutes away from the university. You have a bedroom and small living room with a stovetop and sink and bathroom.

The housing allowance is 25% of your base salary, so for most people between 3000-3400 riyals. The default hotel described above costs a little over 3000 a month. If you get out into other housing, you can save some of that allowance, but only with roommates. If you want to live alone, a decent apartment situation will put you at around 4000-5000 a month in Riyadh.

Compounds are very expensive and don't always take bachelors. The cheapest I found were 80,000 a year.

[Yasuke]

[cultofpersonality]

There is a compound I used to live on called Abanat Compound. It was a very small compound but it had a small swimming pool and an even smaller lounging area. It was at the end of Tahlia Street, in Riyadh. The owner is a nice guy and quite helpful. My friend and I paid 25,000 riyals each a year to live there. It's pretty much a residential block with a swimming pool and the apartments are small. However, you can bring whoever the hell you want into the compound.

[oddyknocky85]

[cultofpersonality]

Oddly knock explained it much better than I did....It was more or less a private apartment block, with the freedom. Oddly knock is right about groups of singles. Abanat is marketed towards families but they allow single males if they are of good character. The landlord may have changed his mind because singles can sometimes take things too far and a few singles did.

[Yasuke]

Good to know, thanks.

it seems that where you live will play a major role in your happiness, especially there. what kind of accommodations are people living in if they aren't on the compound?

i noticed that there aren't many pictures of the apartments that they have listed. is that common practice in the area?

[oddyknocky85]

Yasuke,

As I said earlier, ICEAT offers a small hotel suite in the Al-Hamra area of Riyadh. It's about 30-45 minutes away from the university. You have a bedroom and small living room with a stovetop and sink and bathroom. That's what most employees are living in. Utilities are paid for, but the wifi is slow and you do have to pay for laundry. You are not allowed to have female company in these hotels, just a heads up on that!

[Yasuke]

Thanks Oddy Knocky,
I appreciate the follow up.
I was just curious if there was anything a bit more comfortable within the average teachers salary. As I said, the working environment seems harsh, so I would imagine some would opt for a comfortable home environment.

[oddyknocky85]

[terramesa]

Near the hotel in the Al-Hamra area do they have a gym and an internet cafe, because I don't want to bring my laptop and I like to workout often?