Saudi private sector human resources (HR) managers are hampering Saudization, according to most respondents in the second Saudi Gazette survey conducted in collaboration with Prince Sultan College for Business and Tourism (PSCJ). A total of 483 male and female citizens, single and married, were involved in the poll. They were aged between 18 and 48, and of varying education and income levels. A common claim from respondents was that their job prospects and promotions were constantly undermined by the actions of non-Saudi personnel managers. A future survey will seek the opinions of expatriate HR managers. Many respondents said that there was favoritism and nepotism practiced by expatriate managers, who either employed their own relatives or their fellow countrymen and women. Fahad Alhmoud, an accounting and finance graduate of the American University of Beirut, who passed his Chartered Financial Analyst-1 (CFA-1) examinations with “flying colors”, said he felt his job application was not properly considered at Banque Saudi Fransi. “I submitted my application online to the bank at 11 P.M. About 20 minutes later I received a response that my qualifications were below the minimum standard,” said Alhmoud. Saudi Gazette has copies of his email correspondence with the bank. While Alhmoud received a reply to his email, it is estimated that 38 percent of Saudis who applied online for jobs have yet to receive a response. Many Saudis view online job advertisements as window-dressing by HR managers. Abdulaziz, who did not want to be named, said he has yet to receive replies to his applications. “I applied online for jobs at Abu Dawood Company and Deloitte more than five months ago. I have yet to get a response, either positive or negative.” Abdulaziz R. Aldosri, a well-known 52-year-old partner and executive at a construction company, said some expatriates take advantage of weak Saudi businesspeople, who are “lackadaisical and lazy, to put it bluntly”. “I see it happening in other businesses, where expatriates form cliques. They tend to make life miserable for others. It is true they extend themselves beyond their job specifications. They tend to recommend their relatives, taking advantage of ignorant and lazy managers.” Mohy-Eddin Khoja, a naturalized Saudi, who owns 12 outlets selling clothes for women and infants, agreed that some expatriates only care about themselves and their relatives. “I have 35 employees, with only three Saudis working as truck drivers. It is true they recommend their relatives to work and help each other. They form closed groups to protect and support each other and cover up each other's faults. But I know they care about my business as much as I do, if not more. This is because it is a matter of survival for them.” Wadee Al-Jedani, a perfume and cosmetics salesman for 12 years, claimed he was cheated a number of times by former expatriate bosses. “Eight years ago I was hired for SR3,400 a month. My Lebanese boss told me there was no need to sign a contract. After three months I was paid SR150 and told salesmen are hired on a commission basis. Other Lebanese salesmen were paid an average SR4,500 in addition to housing and medical insurance,” said Al-Jedani. “The business is owned and run by a Lebanese under the name of a Saudi (name of company withheld), who is happy with SR50,000 a year. They used me for three months to meet their Saudization quota.” “A year later I began working for a clothing company. After working for them for two years I broke my leg in an accident and was given a month's sick leave. My Egyptian boss deducted half my monthly salary and I received only SR1,200. This despite my contract stating that I was entitled to a full month's pay if my medical absence was less than a month.” “This was also a business run in the name of a Saudi who knew nothing about these prctices. I have now been with a reputable company for three years and have learned not to work without a contract even if the salary is low.” Yousef Al-Zahrani, another respondent, said Saudis are under pressure to perform better than their foreign counterparts. “I have been working for a well-known food importing company for more than 10 years. I am a graduate of King Abdul Aziz University and work in the accounting department where I receive and record the weekly cash sales of 22 outlets. However, my work is checked and verified by a non-Saudi accountant with only two years' experience and a bookkeeping diploma. He reports to work at 5 A.M. every day and leaves at 8 P.M. I work double shifts and the manager shouts and screams at me, even when I'm only five minutes late.” “The bookkeeper is the cousin of our manager, who is Syrian. Another cousin of the manager is married to the nephew of one of the company's owners.” Al-Zahrani claimed that three other Saudis have been employed for the last two years to help manage the company's cold store. Their Palestinian-Jordanian manager refuses to train them and prevents them from becoming truck traffic controllers. Ahmed Radhi, an assistant manager for four years at a well-known local fast-food chain, claimed that Saudis are not getting the same bonuses as expatriate workers. “For three years I received a six percent bonus whereas the other non-Saudis got annual bonuses of 10 percent. Only the employees who pester the manager get the maximum annual bonus.” “I have a university degree in business management and my manager assigns me to customer complaints. Sometimes I get no complaints for weeks. I have asked to be transferred to other departments like wholesale or purchases but my Filipino manager always tells me I'm not qualified.” Anmar, another respondent, told researchers that he also had a bad experience when he was completing his studies and working at the same time. “When I joined the company I asked to work only one shift for seven months so I could complete my studies. My manager then was a Saudi, but after four months he was promoted to a higher post. My new Egyptian manager, who had a non-transferable iqama, made me work double shifts or accept a 60 percent cut in my salary. He did this because he thought I would head the department after I finished my studies. I suffered for four months until I finished my studies. Now I'm an assistant branch manager. I'll never forget how badly I was treated.” __
