Texas

[Allizarx]

I accepted a job as an offshore storekeeper to work 28 days on and 28 days off internationally. They now want me to live in a shared apartment and work a fulltime job in a cubicle in Dubai during my offtime. There is no way I can maintain this schedule, but I was not asked, I was told. I have no doubt I will be fired if I try to reject the additional assignment. What can I do? Is this legal?

 

[xylene]

I accepted a job as an offshore storekeeper to work 28 days on and 28 days off internationally. They now want me to live in a shared apartment and work a fulltime job in a cubicle in Dubai during my offtime. There is no way I can maintain this schedule, but I was not asked, I was told. I have no doubt I will be fired if I try to reject the additional assignment. What can I do? Is this legal?

What they are asking is legal.

What you can do is refuse and demand the schedule you expected get a better job.

You have special skills that are in demand.

You could also go to the Dubai job. Get money and slack off terribly until you are fired and then get a new job.

 

[Allizarx]

So I have no right to refuse the assignment? I am salary so they are giving me a mediocre bonus check(which will be heavily taxed I'm sure) every 3 months for my time in Dubai (no living expenses).
I have have no desire to sit in a cubicle or share an apartment when I should be enjoying the sun in some foreign country, which is why I took this job in the first place. Looks like I will be seeking employment soon ^.^

 

[cbg]

If you can hold tight till Patty gets here, she has some experience with offshore employment.

 

[pattytx]

Since you are working outside of the U.S. the FLSA, the federal wage and hour laws, don't apply to you. A number of the guys would work their tails off for 2-3 years and sock the money away. If you are outside the U.S. for at least 330 days in a year, you are eligible for the Foreign Earned Income exclusion. See a tax preparer who is familiar with individuals working overseas.

 

[xylene]

A number of the guys would work their tails off for 2-3 years and sock the money away.

What extra money?

It doesn't change the legality, but the poster states his employer is doubling the amount of work time expected for no extra pay except unspecified 'bonuses'.

This poster has special skills and experience and could find a better job. If he is a key man he could refuse the Dubai assignment and it is possible he would be retained, either a Dubai person would be found or a the poster would be replaced with a person willing to work 365 in a foreign country 28 offshore and 28 in an office with no private apartment or regular home leave (and no extra pay).

 

[pattytx]

What extra money?

Most people working overseas make pretty good money.

 

[Allizarx]

It's nothing special honestly, far under 6 figures that some offshore employees make even with the Bonuses. I'm just peaved they lied to me about having my own place. I know Dubai is expensive but if they need me bad enough to take away my offtime, they can pay to match my standard of living. (I'm well off enough not to see money as my main incentive, I love to have fun on my time off)

I'll ride this out while I look around for another international job and stay gone long enough to live tax free.

Patty, what if I do not leave the US untill August or September then stay gone for 330 days? Is the year based on the April 24th tax deadline?

 

[pattytx]

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0,,id=96817,00.html

 

[Allizarx]

Thank you ^.^

 

[Allizarx]

What still worries me is when I go to Dubai and if my employment is terminated on either side a month or two down the line, are they really under any legal obligation to pay me the "bonuses" for my time worked?

I am also told I have no access to vacation/sick time whatsoever.

 

[xylene]

are they really under any legal obligation to pay me the "bonuses" for my time worked?

Why would they be under ANY obligation to pay a discretionary bonus?

Unless the terms of the bonus are spelled out explicitly and without reservations IN A BINDING CONTRACT, of course they can burn you.

Is this really what you signed on for? To be a quasi slave to pad a mega-corporations bottom line with the sweat of a Dubai roomate?

 

[Allizarx]

No, but I do want to spend more time in Dubai ^.^, I found out the roomate is my age and from Germany, so a good time may be had yet, and I want to test what happens when I get "sick" without any sick days to take.

Should give me another month or so to look around, I've found some interesting jobs
available in Malaysia and Indonesia.