Agree with PaknGap.
Serco's contract was only for a 12 month period at the outset. That, had all 5 stayed, would now have reached its expiration date. Naturally the option to stay on was always a contract Rhyder .... of the five, one is still here. The one that is still here is now I believe employed by QCAA.
The two days leave for a night shift refers to casual leave. The night shift starts at 10pm and terminates at 6am the following day. Thus, if, once the roster is distributed and then some one wishes to take annual leave over that night shift period ... well the individual would firstly be late in his/her submission of leave as a two month period prior to leave commencement is required .... for obvious reasons ... and in order to ensure minimum disruption, the rostering officer would arrange it from day beginning new cycle ... NOT over the night shift. If, for whatever reason the person requires leave (annual) to fall over the night shift ... it will just be then one (1) day, not two (2) ... so for example, if the person wants annual leave that will terminate on a wednesday ... and that wednesady happens to be the night he/she will go on night shift at 10pm that evening .... it will just be for the wednesday and not the thursday as well. If however the person wants annual leave that will incorporate days either side of the night shift start and termination time ... then quite obviously it will be a chronological issue of two days ... NOT because the night shift falls over two days ... simply because it will be the two days out of how many the person wishes to take leave. This is if it can even be done at all .. remember this is using an example of leave request post roster 'publication' so a fair amount of shuffling about will be incurred. However, casual leave (short-term notice leave if you will) is probably what the person is referring to ... is indeed drawn from by 2 (two) days ... why?? ... well .... the shift starts on day 1 (one) at 10pm and ends on day 2 (two) at 6am ... so two (2) days ...??.... not quite getting the problem there?? It is understood that it is one shift - certainly ... however, QCAA requires via its HR that calendar work days be approached chronologically - not per shift or shift cycle ... as explained earlier.
Currently, I would far prefer that QCAA provides the housing. They are able to negotiate from a strength perspective and normally this would entail substantial discounts in rent per unit. Negotiating as an individual is normally from a position of weakness ... and it does NOT differ in Dubai as I know of several people who did negotiate on their own and ended up living a nightmarish year there before moving to another compound. This naturally does NOT follow that this will happen to everyone ... but the risk is most definitely relevant. Its the old supply/demand model applied here.
The accommodation in Doha now is between 4 to 7 bedroom villa's ... depending on which compound you choose, each with a clubhouse and pool and covered parking. The newish compound has thus far proven, I believe, to be a bit of a disappointment in terms of maintenance as everything is contracted out. In addition;- the clubhouse, though impressive in size, is yet un-equipped ... so no gym or other leisure equipment .... but ... this was a known factor to those that chose that compound. In any event, it will I have no doubt, improve at that compound over time.
Those of us that own homes know that as a home owner the one constant ... ANYWHERE in the world ... is maintenance ... so ... why would it be any different here. The difference here is all you have to do when you want anything .... is complete a form ... all on site and normally once completed, within that same day the issue is resolved. Is it always the best workmanship ...?? ... probably not .... but then you have the unbelievable option of getting them back and repairing or replacing it at all again .... FREE!!! Do not be fooled by a common-place statement I have heard here that goes "Yes ... but it is rather odd if you are used to a higher standard" I assure you ... the folk that normally make statements such as that ... believe it beneath them to complete those forms to have something repaired or replaced ...again ...FREE!!! Thankfully , most of these like minded individuals have left the country ... there are still remnants though.
It is also worth pointing out that the gratuity here is quite simple .... 1 full months salary (as per your contract) for every year worked up to a maximum of ten years ... based on the most recent salary at your time of resignation. The casual leave available per year is seven days (7) .. and is in addition to the forty five (45) annual leave that is availed to you ... so a total of fifty two (52) per year. The leave that you do not use at the end of the fiscal year can be en-cashed for its QCAA daily rate. Your annual ticket home can also be en-cashed.
Essentially, and I truly have walloped this poor old horse to death. When you come across here it is normally .... NORMALLY as an experienced controller ... hence .... and I am going out on a limb here ....also an adult. The most magnificent tool as an ADULT we have is the power of CHOICE. Listen to what your colleagues already here tell you, listen closely ... visit Doha ... for heavens sake watch it all unfold daily and nightly on FlightRadar24 ..... with voice !!! When you commit and discover it is not to your liking or you have bitten off too much .... well ... I refer you to the fact that you are an adult and there is never any guarantees in Life.
Short of sounding gaudily testosterone driven ... Doha is NOT for the faint hearted. To extrapolate on that is akin to asking why do and how often do clouds change shape .... the variables are numerous and definitely station specific. However , suffice it to say, in short - if your situational awareness is not of the holistic nature and your multi-tasking is very rigid, in that it is regimented by airspace specificity and an ATFM unit ... well ... my generic advice would be, revisit your decision about Doha Radar. I cannot talk for Doha Aerodrome Control. If you are however, somewhat jaded by rigidity and believe a challenge the answer ... definitely consider Doha Radar!!
I have used this analogy many times before ... when you buy a home or a car (considered the two greatest expenses for the average income earner) ... you are normally very discerning are you not, on occasion even a tad anal ?? .... viewing many homes, cars ... going through the stats, maintenance issues, past, existing problems, neighbourhood, projection etc, etc ..... ad-infinitum ... so WHY ......WHY ... would you be any less discerning (or anal if you are so inclined) with possibly THE most important decision of your life ..... changing employers ... especially (for most ) from one of a guaranteed pension and job security to one where there is no real guarantee of permanent employ????!!!??? Yet many are surprisingly cavalier about this very decision .....
Do I believe we should have a full review of our current package here in Doha?? ... ABSOLUTELY .... and I base this exclusively on that fact that the current growth, both Macro and Micro ... in all sectors ... Industrial, Technical, Scientific ... etc, etc ..... is explosive and I assure you ... never before seen. It is magnified exponentially by the size of Qatar ... it is a small sliver type thumb of property that quite frankly probably even has the local Qatari's baffled as to the economic juggernaut they are riding. Thus the aviation sector is beyond surging ... it is near comet like in its growth .... in all aspects. So as you can imagine ... the sustainable infrastructure ..... essentially us and many others ... always seem to be playing catch-up. The ATC staff that meets that demand, work extremely hard when on shift ... often in complex and demanding situations ... and do so with determination and pride. I have never seen a group of controllers and assistants, both male and female ... be so accommodating to the many "ASKs" of aviation ... but also be so successful at their implementation. They deserve true recognition for that ... which they do currently get in a competitive package in GCC terms ... but it still needs review and finessing to honour these men and women for the commitment they have, are and will show to this rapid growing aviation industry. My bias is probably hugely on display here ... however, from my 12 years experience here, I believe I can safely say ... that although we may not in pure numbers move bigger traffic figures than Dubai (many technical reason apply) ... but per controller I am convinced we work substantially harder!! I do however, believe that one day ... this will be THE place to work in the ME.
Last edited by CuitoCuanavale; 1st Oct 2014 at 13:16.