Experinece from Hilton Ras Al Khaimah 02

“Hilton” as a brand has always been a respected and renowned hotel chain in hospitality industry. This mail is particularly related to Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa and not Hilton as a brand.
Precisely it’s about employee’s grievances who work at Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa. After been in Hospitality industry for almost 8 Years I can definitely say, that Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa is totally mismanaged and if this goes on, it will definitely effect the brand value of Hilton in UAE or MEA Region.
I understand that Mr. Chris Nassetta was here in Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa for a while and he has totally neglected employee’s grievances.

This article will explain about Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa’s policy towards their employees and many of the labor laws are modified by Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa to totally benefit the management of the property.
I have also forwarded this mail to most of the newspapers editors in Middle East, to few established hoteliers in Middle East and to most of the well known recruitment agencies in Mumbai - India.
This mail is also posted in http://www.jobvent.com (Ctrl C / Ctrl V)

1) Labor law is not followed:
UAE labor law is modified in the contract letter to benefit the management of the hotel and then asked to sign by newly hired employees.

a) Overtime “Article 65 to 71 of the Labour Law - As required by U.A.E. law, overtime hours must be worked voluntarily. In addition to their compensation for regular hours of work, hourly and/or quota-based wage workers shall be compensated for overtime hours at such a premium rate as is legally required by U.A.E. law”:
In Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa overtime worked are not even compensated with day offs where everyday working hours is between 14 to 15 hours every day in 6 days of a week.

b) Repatriation in case of termination. “Article 131 of UAE labor law - The final element of severance, repatriation cost, is described in article 131 of UAE labor law. It states that on termination of employment by the employer, the employer must cover the cost of repatriation of the employee to the country from where he or she was recruited, or any other place agreed on by the two parties”
In Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa’s contract it states that (Under section Repatriation) “ In the case of termination, the repatriation ticket will be at your own expense and all charges pertaining to your employment and residence visas.
(The management of Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa had many experiences where employees tried to leave by using Article 131 of UAE labor law few years ago. So they had to make some changes in their contract letters)

c) In UAE labor law, it is clearly detailed that after probation period of 3 months an employee has to give 1 month notice to end the contract. But in Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa as per the new internal communication mail sent by Mr. Shinto, the notice period to end the employment contract is 2 months.

2) Female associates are sexually harassed and no action has been taken so far.
There has been lot of sexual harassment compliments against Ayman Moneim (Operation Restaurant Manager) by female associates and those sexual harassment complaints are not even filed/recorded in Human Resource Department. As he is close to the General Manager of Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa he is just issued warnings verbally.
Most of the time Ayman Moneim is usually found drinking alcohol on duty without any city ledger or been charged.
Restaurant manager has no managerial authority over her department as Ayman Moneim had threatened and created a scare within the division (F&B).

3) Employees are threatened that they will be banned if they leave their job.
Employees are treated like criminals and are banned for one year if they resign and also asked to pay all recruitment and visa charges. (In fact in my case…. As per the immigration officer in UAE, my passport is blacklisted. I was treated like a criminal and I was blacklisted just because I resigned before my contract period and that too after I paid back all my recruitment/hiring charges) blacklisting are usually done for the people who has criminal records, I was not even terminated.

4) Cluster Human Resource Manager is making money by hiring staff through Vira International:
(Example Case: Some employees were selected through telephonic interview and after their selection those employees were told to report to Vira International and they were asked to pay for the agency fees) I think this was one of the reasons why Vira International dint give us any receipt for our payments even after we requested.

The following few points will brief you how employees are treated in Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa. These points are properly detailed at http://www.jobvent.com/companyBrowse.php?CompanyID=15308

1) No proper uniforms are provided;
2) No proper bus transportation are provided between staff accommodation to work…most of the time we have to pay for cab to return from shift due to improper bus timing and improper work schedule;
3) Pathetic living condition;
4) Employees are treated like slaves (Male Associate);
5) Female associates are treated like Whores (I’m sorry for this word). But this happens particularly in Food and Beverage Service;
6) Pathetic working conditions;
7) No proper laundry facility been provided for staff;
8) Pathetic long long working hours (14 to 15 hours every day, that too without any compensation) and associates are forced to do this for the many years;
9) Totally Mismanaged;
10) Most of the Managers don’t even have proper communicational skills, forget about responding official mails;
11) Totally unorganized;
12) Can’t expect for professional growth;
13) Not much monetary benefits (Just the basic Pay);
14) No recreation facility for staff;

It’s a common occurrence that employees don’t stick to Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa. Not only line staff but even the higher management and planning committee don’t stick to Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa. Just few cases:
a) Chief Steward could not survive more than 2 MONTHS;
b) Chief Engineer dint survive more than 1 DAY;
c) Executive Chef dint survive more than 2 MONTHS;
d) Dint even count line staff…. (Latest Record: 15 line staff resigned within 7 days in first week of November)
Nothing is been done to retain the resigning staff or to retain the existing staff.
When we resign… manager just try to explain that he has invested money on us…
But the real fact is… employees of Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa has invest lot of money. Starting from agency fees and pays back all the recruitment cost.

These were just few points which I realized while working with Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa. I have been sharing this experience so that the people who are trying to get a job in Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa should know what exactly is happening inside. Because for me, I had lot of expectation from Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa or Hilton as a brand. And it was far far far below my expectation.

I again request all the readers to be very cautious before joining Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa whether as a Management or line associate. Please consider the above mentioned issues before concluding your decision.
I have also forwarded this mail to most of the well known recruitment agencies in Mumbai and I urge them (including Vira International) not to mediate the recruitment process for Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa. Think about the people how are hired through agency like Vira International.
Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa is not even following their own policy “it matters how you are and not who you are”

Property General Manager: Mr. Mohab Ghali
Tel: +971 7 2288848
mohab.ghali@hilton.com
Cluster Human Resource Manager: Mr. Shinto S Deepak
Tel: +971 7 2260018
shinto.deepak@hilton.com
Recruitment Agency: Vira International – Mumbai (From India)
Tel: +91 22 40567777 (Mr. Agnel)
agnel@virainternational.com

My conclusion:
Hilton Ras Al Khaimah is definitely creating a bad impression even for people who are beginning their career in Hospitality. Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort & Spa is not even good for people who are starting their career.
I urge all the readers to spread this information to all your friends. Please let this information spread out of blogs.

I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND ANY OF MY FRIENDS AND READERS TO JOIN HILTON RAS AL KHAIMAH BEACH RESORT AND SPA.