pop
i was asked in december which of my team i should consider for the chop in january - 'should the worst happen'

i said to my boss well that's a tough one but with some sadness made my recommendations. i was prudent enough to seek his advice on this..

"i have to ask (fat cunt boss) - i've been here 6 months now (Dubai) and i'm just about to ship my family and all my worldly possessions out here - i have another family poised to rent my property back home - should i still be going ahead with this?"

(reassuring voice) "of course spimf we still need a core management staff to run the business"

i was told this morning the final decision on my redundancy will be in "a week or two" from then i have 1 month to find a job (there are none, Dubai is FUCKED, 2000 cars have been dumped at the airport in the last two months) then after 1 month i lose my visa have to fund my trip home, my family's trip. oh and try and work out what the fuck to do about my belongings that are on a boat off west africa currently.

if i miss one payment for the new car i bought i go to jail. if i don't pay my credit card bills - i go to jail.

my wife is in bits

i'm pretty scared to be honest - i sold our cars - let my home, put all my possessions on a boat for these cunts - the owner is a multi millionaire but would rather dump me and my family in the desert than lose a few quid over a few months.

he has a history of this sort of behavior

that's why hes rich i guess
( spimf ™ is whoever you want him to be, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 16:44, 27 replies)

Shit, spimf
It's hard to keep a cool head in such difficult times, especially as it involves your family.

I sincerely hope you get fixed up PDQ if it all goes pear-shaped.

In the meantime, just imagine all the dozens of ways you can exact some spimf retribution on the boss... It'll help you deal with it.

Best of luck old man.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Thu 22 Jan 2009, 16:49, closed)

Shit!
Sorry to hear that Spimf. I hope you can sort something out.

Good luck!
( girlinthehole, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 17:18, closed)

'Kin hell spimf
That's completely rubbish. I hope it all works out for you.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 17:54, closed)

I'd heard
Things were bad in saudi, but it sounds like its gone completely fubar. good luck (hope you dont need it)
(Stringy, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 18:52, closed)

Could be worse
You could suffer from gingivitis.
(powervator and NONE SHALL PASS, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 19:13, closed)

Yes, but WTF were you doing there (Dubai) in the first place?
Probably hoping to make a shitload of cash and retire early, like everyone else there. Well tough titty bro', life sucks. Now shut up and get a real job like the rest of us.
( BamaSS, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 19:30, closed)

no i thought i would take my wife and child
to a place where we might get a slightly better quality of life and my wife might not suffer so badly from SAD

thanks for flushing yourself out as a cunt though - saves us all the trouble

really helpful

i have a young child

all our worldly goods packed into half a lorry container in the middle of fuck all

i'm glad you feel so confident about your own future i'd love to hear about this real job of yours - i work 10 hours on a quiet day

i hope to fuck you never need friends - because clearly you will be lacking

thats right count them

oh!
( spimf ™ is whoever you want him to be, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 19:36, closed)

BamaSShole
You really are a FUCKING CUNT.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 23 Jan 2009, 10:26, closed)

My thoughts are with you!
I have worked in the middle east and know a lot of others who have too. If you think that your company is cutting it too close to the wire for you, especially in terms of your work visa running out, then I would suggest you take what money you have and get out of Dubai. I'm guessing that all the dumped cars at the airport have been left there by people who have done a runner. I am sure you can sort out the shipment of your belongings when you get back home; which I'm guessing is England. Hopefully your employer does not possess your passport; which is something that they do in Saudi. I wish you luck and I hope you all stay safe. Even though heading back home with nothing seems like a poor option, it is far better to do that, than get caught in Dubai with an out of date work visa and in the employment of a boss who couldn't give a toss about you or your family.Best wishes to you, hope things work out.
(Woofie, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 19:56, closed)

Should you need assistance
I have a sizeable collection of bolt-croppers for every purpose from toe-removal to below-knee-cap amputation. Should the need arise.
(mymilkshakebringsallthemongstotheyard poison hearts, poison minds - joining hate, Thu 22 Jan 2009, 21:56, closed)

Shit happens
I have been made redundant five times in the last 20 years and each time it was a shock to the system. Looking back though I realise that the excellent position I am now in wouldn't have happened if I had stayed in any of those dead end jobs.

Good luck - it nearly always works out! Honest.
(Pork2311, Fri 23 Jan 2009, 8:25, closed)

id like to thank the people above
who have been supportive

i got some unpleasant comments from a few quarters and was upset enough last night to bother to respond

since then i have realised there was little point in that so have deleted my comments

i would like to point out that i am not some fast buck property speculator out here - the sort that has cause the out of control inflation and stupid rent costs out here

i work on average a 10 hour day, get paid a reasonable salary and try to provide for my family. i dont expect a living for nothing. my worry is for my wife and young son having to flee this country and lose all their possessions beyond the 23kilo luggage allowance

not for my own financial sake

i would wish this level of worry on anyone
( spimf ™ is whoever you want him to be, Fri 23 Jan 2009, 8:53, closed)

Good Heavens..
Sorry to hear about this..

Split the anger from the worry. Are things so bad in the Middle East right now? is there someone at the shipping company that can sort out shipping your stuff back should the need arise? Can you explain the situation so they're warned that you may have to change plans.. Also, put your family first, and make the right decisions for you, even if you have to let someone else down and have your house back, I'm guessing its short lease?

Prepare yourself for the worse thing that can happen, get everything planned for your return, and if you have to cut your losses and return, it's not the end of the world, is it?
Ignore the miserable bastard, he's probably never taken a tiny risk in his life.
(Beer Elf Thought this was like a campfire, anyhow, on, Fri 23 Jan 2009, 10:18, closed)

Sympathy
It's rapidly coming up to 10 years from when I first moved out of the UK over here. It's never an easy move - all lines of support are a couple of 1000 miles away, and when things go wrong (as they have once or twice) dealing with a foreign bureaucracy is never easy - particularly when you've been screwed over this way.

The best thing to do is find your local Consulate, get down there, explain what's happened and how you've been let down, and ask for some help.

Good luck.
( Stevedix http://www.stevedix.de/blog, Fri 23 Jan 2009, 10:34, closed)

Yikes
that's a bit of a shitty situation mate. Your boss sounds like a total cunt.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Fri 23 Jan 2009, 11:25, closed)

Aw, no
That's really bad. I hope something comes along to get it sorted for you. Have a hug and a clicky.

Although... could you flog all those dumped cars at the airport to make a little cash?

Or mow your boss down in one of the afore-mentioned cars?
( VandenPlas can't think of anything clever - no change there!, Fri 23 Jan 2009, 12:19, closed)

Sorry to hear of your predicament
I worked overseas for 30 years, mostly the Middle East and North Africa, glad to say I am now back in Bonny Jockland.

Sad to say, I met too many people who found themselves in a similar situation as yourself, up shit creek, no paddle. One thing I did learn, never trust an arab (plenty of others too).

Even if you do have an agreement in writing (for terms and conditions), this doesn't mean much, you could take your case to the local labour court, I can already tell you the outcome.

I take it you signed your contract in the UK, as I am not sure as to the terms of your contract, I can only advise that you do have legal rights (in the UK) to seek redress through the courts against the Dubai companies UK representative or agency you went through. This will take time though.

The best I can suggest is that you get yourself to Bahrain. You pay for a tourist visa at the airport, it's not an expensive place to stay. Once there, you should be able to find a reasonable job as a stop gap until you can sort out what's best for you.

I wouldn't bother looking for help from the British Consulate in Dubai, they may be able to help you with a replacement passport, that's about it.

I take it this is your first overseas job, it's a shame you have had to find out the hard way that Expats are in a vulnerable position.

I hope this experience doesn't put you off working overseas. Overall I found my work rewarding and the Expat communities tend to be a very supportive group. It's a good way of life, once you are settled, and will provide a decent reward after a few decades, enough to pay off the house and have a wedge invested so you can retire early.

I was lucky enough to meet my wife (to be) in Sunni Saudi, a lovely lass from North Ayrshire (not the usual filipino/thai bride). The only ache we had was having the Saudi moggies spend 6 months in quarantine.

I know you will manage to get sorted out, remember, it's always darkest just before the end of the storm. You will get sorted out, and you and yours will do well.

If you would like some help/advice, please feel free to ask, best to learn by others mistakes, it's cheaper/easier than making them yourself.
(alanrbnsn, Sun 25 Jan 2009, 18:06, closed)

Sadly not new
Similar sort of thing happened to my Dad back in the earlier sixties before I was born.

This was back in the day when you had to get an employee reference to get a mortgage. His boss gave him a reference for a house in Liverpool and then made him redundant a month or so later (like he didn't know). Left him not long married with an unpayable mortgage.

But as all the positives say here it all worked out in the end and he got something else down south and had a great life.

From my point of view it was good as I don't have a scouse accent which could have happened (possibly a bad taste joke given your circumstances).
(Big Fish Been around since the internet was just fields., Mon 26 Jan 2009, 21:31, closed)

How awful
I'm really sure things will work out for you, in the way that things tend to do. But in the mean time, what a lot of stress, uncertainty, and potential loss.

Get yourself an exit plan drawn up (which can be swung into action to avoid debt, jail, or belongings being left behind; thinking about where you might stay on return to the UK etc also adds a bit more security), at the very least to give you and your wife some peace of mind, but lets hope you don't have to actually use it.
(cherrynicola, Tue 27 Jan 2009, 20:05, closed)

update
seems they at least have to pay to send me my family and my stuff back under uae law - they can't cancel my visa until i sign off i am happy they have done so

so i have some cards

oh and we can stay at my father in laws (or my wifes dads place) - depends how you see it

its fucking stressful but i'll come out the other end

i'm good at my job during the periods i'm not on here - so it should be ok (ish)

thanks again folks

NEVER TRUST AN ARAB!
( spimf ™ is whoever you want him to be, Tue 27 Jan 2009, 20:27, closed)

Yay
glad to hear there's some sort of silver lining, mate.

Still a twatful situation to be in though.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 28 Jan 2009, 15:20, closed)

I've just been scanning back through the qotw and found this post....

I'm so sorry to hear about this shit situation mate, you don't deserve it.

Keep your chin up, I hope you can ride it out with the minimum of disruption to your family.

If you get the time, please keep me posted.
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Wed 28 Jan 2009, 15:27, closed)