rio de janeiro
introduction
work environment
The building has 20 floors, 10 of which are occupied by Chevron. Approximately 400 people work at the Rio de Janeiro office (upstream and downstream operations). The office has an open cubicle environment, with a few offices provided for management. In some instances, cubicles are shared. Several meeting rooms are available on each floor.
The office hours are flexible from Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Employees can choose the schedule that is most convenient to them based on these hours. Lunch is usually from noon to 1 p.m. The 9/80 schedule is not used.
On most floors, office amenities include a cafeteria area with a refrigerator, microwave and coffee machine. Snacks and fruits are provided for free. Mail services are available through the Chevron mail room, located on the 08th floor. Citibank ATM is available on ground floor.
housing
Housing options for expatriates in Rio de Janeiro differ based on length of assignment.
In general, pets are not accepted in this type of accommodation.
Employees on expatriate assignments longer than two years receive assistance from a relocation company and can live in either the South Zone or Barra da Tijuca. The decision as to where to live is usually based on personal needs, lifestyle preferences, proximity to work, schools, shopping and commercial areas. The length of commuting time to the office varies significantly by location and route - and should therefore be considered when housing is selected.
- South Zone (Lagoa, Ipanema, Leblon, Jardim, Botanico and Urca): Only apartments are available in the South Zone - houses are not an option. Currently, there are more expatriates living in the South Zone than in Barra da Tijuca. However, because of the limited availability of apartments in the South Zone, more recent arrivals tend to live in Barra. Apartments in this area are typically older, smaller in size, and do not include access to amenities like a pool, sauna and sports courts. The South Zone is walking distance to commercial areas.
- West Zone (Barra da Tijuca): Both houses and apartments are available in Barra da Tijuca. Though the commute to the Chevron office is significantly longer (approximately one hour and a half) - this should be taken into consideration as the level of exposure to traffic conditions is much higher, especially due to the fact that expatriates are expected to drive - some expatriates choose to live in Barra da Tijuca because it has a greater market availability of apartments and houses than the South Zone. Apartments and homes in this area are typically newer, larger in size, and include access to more amenities, such as a pool, sauna and sports courts. Barra da Tijuca is not within walking distance to commercial areas. For most residents, a vehicle is required to travel locally around Barra.
Prior to lease agreement, Chevron routinely conducts detailed security and maintenance inspections for any prospective housing unit in both Barra da Tijuca and South Zone. Due to the age and quality of units, identifying an acceptable apartment in the South Zone may require a several month search, during which employees live in interim housing. Acceptable housing is more readily available in Barra, and so interim living stays are generally shorter for those deciding to live in this area. Contracts are standard and are negotiated by the relocation company with the assistance of the Chevron Brazil Legal department. Typically, lease agreements are for 30 - 48 months and can be renewed based on negotiations with the landlord. Chevron pays all costs related to the rental of housing in Rio (for example, rent and city tax), up to certain limits as established in the local expatriate policies.
After the lease agreement is signed by the employee, the landlord and a Chevron director, the Chevron Security department installs security equipment in all housing.
Expatriates on resident assignments bring or purchase their own furniture. Furniture rental is available as an interim solution until the household goods arrive. An allowance to rent furniture is provided and outlined in the local expatriate policies.
Pets are usually allowed in most long-term housing.
Employees on rotational assignments in Rio de Janeiro typically do not require housing facilities when they are on rotation as they are offshore. However, when housing is necessary, rotational employees are housed in serviced (furnished) apartments, similar to the temporary employees mentioned above.
All utilities are provided in the serviced apartments available to expatriates on temporary assignments.
Electrical outlets are 110V and 60Hz frequency and use 3-round-pin-type plugs.
support services
Chevron approves several Rio de Janeiro schools; Generally, Chevron expatriates' children attend the American School of Rio de Janeiro (EARJ). A complete list of approved schools is available in the local expatriate policies.
the american school of rio de janeiro
The American School of Rio de Janeiro (EARJ) was established in 1937 to provide an academic program that was comparable in excellence to the curriculum found in superior schools in the United States.
The school is organized into three sections:
- Lower School (preschool, kindergarten, and 1st through 5th grade)
- Middle School (6th through 8th grade)
- Upper School (9th through 12th grade)
Children take school transportation or get dropped off by the parents. The school year follows the typical North American school year, starting in August and ending in June.
A list of sports and extracurricular activities is available on the school's website.
support services
There are two recommended hospitals in Rio de Janeiro:
- Pró-Cardíaco
- São Vicente
These hospitals can provide routine and emergency care. Both have bilingual support and accept Chevron's international medical plan in case of hospitalization and surgeries.
Home country insurance cards are not accepted in clinics and hospitals in Brazil. However Cigna established a partnership with Gama Saúde that will allow you to use its network provider without paying out-of-pocket. For further information please access Cigna Global Health Benefits (Cigna).
For medical care at any other facility, employees may be required to pay out-of-pocket and then request reimbursement from their international insurance provider.
Also, Expatriate Services can provide a list of fully bilingual doctors and specialists for non-emergencies, however, these doctors do not accept Chevron's international medical plan.
To assist expatriates with domestic-help issues, Brazil HR and Legal have developed instructions and templates which are available in Chevron's intranet, including receipt templates, hiring and termination paperwork, and social security contribution calculations.
All visitors are required to attend a security briefing. Newly arrived expatriates and their families are given a thorough overview on security including company guidelines, necessary precautions, as well as other important topics applicable to the location. Also, to keep employees and families safe while living and working in Rio de Janeiro, Chevron provides bilingual emergency response service 24/7, through the company's Security department.
More information on security policies and announcements are posted and maintained on the Chevron Global Security page on the Chevron intranet.
shopping
Supermarkets in Rio de Janeiro carry many familiar brands and products, even though the packaging may look different. Fresh fruit (particularly tropical) is often available and reasonably priced. For groceries, there are a few supermarket options in the South Zone and Barra da Tijuca. Expatriates usually go to:
A variety of food, clothing, furniture and household items is available in Rio de Janeiro.
The following are popular shopping malls and stores:
Barra Shopping / New York City Center
Shopping Leblon
Rio Design
Rio Sul
Casa Shopping
Additionally, international chains have stores in the city, such as Wal-Mart, Makro and Leroy Merlin (similar to Home Depot). Street shopping, with local vendors and small markets, is also common in areas like Ipanema.
recreational facilities
People in Rio de Janeiro love the outdoors. Jogging or biking by the beaches or lakes is very common. Lots of people also play sports at the beach, like volleyball.
Football (that is, American soccer) is the most popular sport, and people tend to gather in informal groups to play. Golf is limited to the golf clubs, which are usually expensive to join. Baseball is not common in Brazil.
Many people join gyms and health clubs, such as:
- Body Tech
- Estação do Corpo
- Companhia Athletica
transportation
Note: Because of the limited availability of serviced apartments that accept pets, expatriates on temporary assignments (less than two years) must contact the local expatriate counselor to make arrangements before beginning their assignment.
While at work, business casual dress (no jacket and tie) is recommended. Jeans may be worn on Fridays.