Job Discussion Forums

[Iamherebecause]

I have noticed that Higher Ed level contracts in the UAE require long periods of notice for resignation - e.g. HCT and UAEU ask for six months and according to the contract you won't get all of your end of contract gratuity if you give less than the required period. Plus in some places apparently you are only allowed to leave at the end of a semester. Given that six months before the end of a contract you don't necessarily know if you have got the job you want to move on to, how do people get round this? Do institutions make the rules stick if people give less than 6 months notice? What about the famed no objection certificate - can you move from one education post in the UAE to another or not these days?

[veiledsentiments]

For the better places... ie the ones that actually follow their contracts, you give the proper notice or you give up the benefits. You may have to choose between gambling on whether you have a new job or not getting your gratuity... which can be significant at places like ZU or HCT if you have been there for a few years... even one 3-year contract.

You never hear about NOCs in the UAE, so I don't think that they are required.

VS

[TABING]

Vieled, if by NOC, you mean "no objection" letters, they are often required, and are difficult to get, even if you honorably finish a contract in good standing. Some employers just refuse to give them, which means leaving the country for 6 months, or washing your passport.

Also, many employers have formal or informal "no poaching" agreements among themselves. If the PI didn't have such an agreement with the HCT, there would be a mass exodus from the latter.

One way that people have gotten around the long resignation is to manufacture a "compassionate" reason to leave like a death in the family, drug addicted child back home etc. Personally I think this is tempting fate and wouldn't do this.

Some people just say to hell with the gratuity, take an easily attainable bankloan for as much as $100,000 and diaappear into the night. That's a burned bridge behind you and you better not come back.

[veiledsentiments]

Yes, I know many that used the burned bridge approach and regretted it. I also know a few people who have moved between employers with little problem - when spouses have been transferred to other parts of the Emirates or children's schools.

The 'no poaching' rule would seem to be unnecessary if NOCs are required. ?? Perhaps NOCs or NOLs, if you prefer, are only required for some levels of employment. I understood that tertiary teachers did not require them.

VS

[younggeorge]

NOC's are definitely required and the no-poaching agreement among government institutions often prevents them being issued or even overrides them. The general rule is that you have to leave one of the government institutions for at least 12 months before you can be employed by another. There have been exceptions to this, but not many.

And I'm afraid the 6-month notice rule (generally interpreted as one full semester rather than 6 calendar months) is also pretty strictly applied.

[veiledsentiments]

Interesting YG... the topic of NOCs or lack thereof comes up endlessly on the Oman and Saudi boards, but never on this section. I wonder why...

I know that the HCT contract is (or was) a 6 month notice and I gave them exactly 6 months and intentionally did it to leave about 3 weeks before final exams. They asked me if I would stay until the end of the semester and I said no, and told them exactly why. (which involved the system and individual who scheduled them and her level of competence... I also pointed out to them how it could be easily and fairly done.)

Thus for the first time in over 10 years, I was able to be with my family for Christmas. That wasn't my goal, but that was the result.

VS

[younggeorge]

Maybe the reason it doesn't get discussed so much on the UAE forum is that people tend not to move so much between employers: just a thought, not based on any particular evidence!

[veiledsentiments]

That is probably the answer. After a couple of contracts at ZU or HCT or UAEU, one may be ready to try move on and try another country.

VS

[james van cleave]

$100, 000! Where do I sign?!

[younggeorge]

[veiledsentiments]

At one time, ZU and HCT gave a better gratuity (based on total pay rather than the usual only 'base pay') while UAEU was on the old system. Are they all the same now?

VS

[younggeorge]

I believe so: UAEU had an overhaul of salary structure about 5 years ago that brought them into line with the others. I don't remember gratuity being mentioned, but I would think it was aligned with the other 2 institutions.

[TABING]

James,

A recent runner got such a loan from NBAD, most banks here will give you an amount up to a number of years salary, based on your grade level and income. They are always aggressively seeking your business.

Many people have even taken these loans and then bought various investment instruments with them. Foolish in my opinion as there is a big risk, witness the recent stock market crash here.