Working at SFS-Qatar

Please click on a link below for more information on each subject.  If you would like to see current employment opportunities with SFS-Qatar, please visit the employment page.    If you would like immediate assistance with an HR or Payroll-related issue, please refer to this guide for the appropriate contact person.

Newly Hired Employees

A checklist is available for new employees to assist with their transition to Doha.  New employees should also visit this page to determine which forms they will need to complete in order to be entered into our payroll system.  In addition to the checklist, new employees should pick up a copy of the New Employee Guide from the SFS-Qatar Human Resources Office.

Payroll

Full-time employees at SFS-Qatar are paid monthly by direct deposit to accounts in either the United States or Qatar.  As deadlines for payroll are fixed, we encourage employees to submit their direct deposit application as soon as possible.

Part time hourly employees are paid bi-weekly.

For employees coming from the United States: If you plan to have any or all of your salary transferred stateside, you must complete and submit a direct deposit application to the Finance Department.  If you would also like to have a portion of your salary deposited into a local bank account in Qatar, you may do so by submitting a local payroll deduction form to the Finance Department.

For all employees not coming from the United States: You must submit a local payroll deduction form to the Finance Department to have your paycheck deposited into a local bank.

If you open a bank account in Doha, paychecks will be issued in Qatari Riyals instead of U.S. Dollars.  Payment is made at a fixed exchange rate of 3.65 Riyals to 1 U.S. Dollar.

Benefits

All full time sponsored employees of Georgetown University receive a comprehensive benefits package, including:

  • Medical Insurance (100% employer funded premiums)
  • Dental Insurance (requires employee contribution)
  • Georgetown Provided, Fully Furnished Accommodation or a Housing Allowance
  • Annual Home Leave Allowance (to cover home leave airfare expenses for the employee and any dependents that have relocated)
  • Monthly Transportation Allowance (to cover the cost of commuting within Doha)
  • Educational Reimbursement for dependent children under age 18
  • Employee Assistance Program benefits
  • Leave and holidays

Learn more about your benefits and allowances: Package A | Package B

If you have any questions related to your benefits or about applying for Educational Assistance should be directed to David Phongsavan.

Learn more about education in Doha.

Employee IDs and Vehicle Permits

After arrival in Doha, you will need to obtain the following cards:

Employee ID cards are necessary for accessing many parts of the building - including after hours.  The HSSE Department will assist you in obtaining an Employee ID card.  Please contact sfsqhsse@georgetown.edu directly.

Vehicle permits are required both for accessing the Education City campus and for parking in the underground parking lot beneath the Georgetown building.  To obtain a vehicle permit, please complete a vehicle permit request form and submit to the HSSE department.

Hamad Medical Cards are necessary for seeking care through the State of Qatar public medical system.  To acquire a card, please complete a Hamad Medical Card application and submit it to Mary Bryan.   Please note:  you must first have received your residence permit before you may apply for a card.

Qatar ID Cards will be issued to you upon your completion of your residence permit.   Each of your dependents 14 and over will also receive an ID card, which is valid for the length of your residence permit.  Hussein Aldobashi in Facilities Management will assist you in obtaining your residence permit, and will also process your Qatar ID renewal. 

Learn about other IDs.

Reimbursements

Typically, your reimbursable expenses will fall into one of two categories:

  • Employee Compensation
  • Business

The following are examples of allowable employee compensation reimbursements and should be submitted to the SFS-Qatar Human Resources Department:

  • Excess Baggage
  • Home Country Maintenance
  • Loss on Sale of Vehicle and/or Contract Cancellation

For employee compensation reimbursements, please use GU-Q Employee Reimbursement Form Employee Compensation Package Form.

The following are examples of allowable business reimbursements and should be submitted to Aimee Unger in the Finance Department:

  • Mobile Phone Purchase
  • Business Travel Expenses (e.g. airfare, cab fare)
  • Meals

For business reimbursements, please use GU-Q Employee Business Reimbursement Form.  Please note that all business reimbursements are subject to review.

Leave

Georgetown University grants to eligible employees paid leave for rest and recreation; personal reasons; health maintenance; illness, injury or disability religious observances; or emergencies.

All employees (staff and AAP's) who take paid leave must submit their time off in our GMS system, which will then be approved by their supervisor.

Important: Make sure to notify your Calling Tree Leader about your travel or leave plans. The primary purpose this practice is for the ERT to determine the whereabouts/accessibility of employees during emergencies.

Holidays 

 
SFS-Qatar Holidays 2013-2014


Eid Al Fitr (3 days) – August 8, 2013 – Thursday (SFS-Qatar will be closed August 8th, 11th and 12th)

Eid Al Adha (3 days) – October 15, 2013 – Tuesday (SFS-Qatar will be closed October 15th, 16th and 17th)

Qatar National Day - December 18, 2013 – Wednesday

Christmas Eve - December 24, 2013 – Tuesday

Christmas Day - December 25, 2013 – Wednesday

Winter Holidays - December 26th (Thursday), December 29th (Sunday), December 30th (Monday)

New Year's Eve - December 31, 2013 – Tuesday

New Year’s Day - January 1, 2014 – Wednesday

Qatar National Sports Day – February 11, 2014 – Tuesday

Easter Sunday – April 20, 2014 – Sunday