More Qatari Oddity

Haven't had time to update my blog for awhile but this is too odd to let slide...
Completely out of the blue, received this email today from the head of DAGOC...

___________________________________________________________________
From: Abdulla K. Al Qahtani
Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 9:20 AM
To: All
Subject: Important Announcement: New Working Hours

Dear Dream Team,

I would like to thank you all for your continued commitment, effort and hard work to ensure that DAGOC will be ready to host Your Games. I am aware of so many of you are already working well beyond standard working hours, and it is truly encouraging to see this level of dedication from you.

As you are well aware our collective operational obligations will increase dramatically in the lead-up to the Games and during Games Time. In order to create an environment that will enable this, I have decided to amend our current working schedule by adding only 12 days to our working load. It is merely a 12-day extra but it will help us substantially to ensure the continuity of our achievements of our milestones and reduce the pressure during the week. This amendment is in line with our policy and procedures and particularly clauses 3.1 and 3.2.

3.1 POLICY
As DAGOC is a project based organisation and dynamic in nature, it needs to execute all its assignments by the prescribed deadlines. To this end, all Employees are expected to work extended hours that progressively increase as DAGOC approaches the date of the Games. Management reserves the right to reschedule the working hours from time to time and establish any working hour system as it deems necessary.

3.2 APPLICATION & PROCEDURE
A. NORMAL WORKING HOURS

Working hours are normally 40 (forty) hours per week. Management may establish other working schedules to meet its operational requirements.

From the above you can see that we are currently working 35 hours per week, and the new amendment will bring the working hours to 40 per week.

Accordingly, the new working schedule effective September 1st 2006, is as follows:

Independence Day Holiday
DAGOC Offices will be closed for Independence Day on Sunday, 3 September 2006.

Amended Working Week / Working Hours
Our working week will be amended as follows:

A. Pre Games Period – 1 September – 18 November 2006:
Working Day(s) Working Hours
Saturday 09:00 – 14:00
Sunday – Thursday 07:30 – 14:30
Friday day off

B. Games Time Period – 19 November – 16 December 2006:
Working Days per week 6
Working Hours As operationally required
Days Off per week 1
Your actual working days and working hours will be determined by your specific operational role / venue / FA during Games Time, and will be communicated to you personally by your Director / Manager.

C. Post Games Period (17 December 2006 – End of Service Date):
On completion of the Games we will revert to the standard working week (Sunday - Thursday, from 07:30 – 14:30 daily).

Ramadan Timings
The holy month of Ramadan is expected to start on or about September 24, 2006. During this period our working hours will be:
Day(s) Timing
Saturday 09:00 – 14:00
Sunday – Thursday 08:00 – 14:00
Friday day off

Eid Al-Fitr Holiday
Eid Al-Fitr is expected to fall on 23 October 2006. Accordingly the Eid Al-Fitr break will start on the first day of the Eid and will end on Friday, 27 October 2006. Work will resume effective Saturday, 28 October 2006.

I believe that these changes will be embraced by all, and I look forward to working with you over the next few months to ensure that we achieve all that is required to deliver the Games of your Life!

Thanks once again to all of you, the Dream Team!

Kind regards,

Abdulla K. Al Qahtani
Director General
Doha Asian Games Organising Committee
Tel: +(974) 448 2001
Fax: +(974) 447 9761
www.doha-2006.com

So basically, we have been told that we now have to work one day of our weekend.