Would You Work for Free to Keep Your Job?
That is what some employees with British Airways is asking themselves:
British Airways is asking thousands of its staff to work for free for up to four weeks, spokeswoman Kirsten Millard said Tuesday.
In an e-mail to all its staff, the airline offered workers between one and four weeks of unpaid leave — but with the option to work during this period. British Airways employs just more than 40,000 people in the United Kingdom. Last month, the company posted a record annual loss of £400 million ($656 million).
Its chief executive declared at the time there were “absolutely no signs of recovery” in the industry.
“I’m 30 years in this business and I’ve never seen anything like this. This is by far the biggest crisis the industry has ever faced,” said Willie Walsh, British Airways’ chief executive.
A spokesman for one of Britain’s biggest unions said its workers could not afford to work for free for a month.
“It’s all well and good for Willie Walsh to say he’s prepared to work for free when he earns four times in a month what they do in a year,” said Ciaran Naidoo, a spokesman for Unite.
He pointed out that the airline was not ordering staff to work without pay. [CNN]
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About The Author
Dobbs
I am a avid hiker with a love for travel and the outdoors. I currently call the Evergreen State of Washington my home.
Am I surprised ? No. Will I work for free , when I love what you I am doing, it is a big YES. I would ever work 3 months out of 12 for free if that was required in order to do or keep what I love doing, keeping in mind that we are in the 21st century (can't work 12 for free).Think about artists in past centuries, not greedy about money, struggling everyday to get something to eat, those who would never give up their passion, their interest, for a boring job to pay their rent. They worked… Read more »
Sure I would work for free – IF and only IF the electric company, my landlord, the daycare and the grocery store agree to provide their services or food for free to me and the family I suppport. I love my job (I've finally realized a 20-yr dream) but I have to be able to be able to provide a roof over my kids heads, food on the table and electric to stay warm. My suggestion – ask every CEO that makes more than 100,000/year to work for free for 5 years and pass his salary on to his employees… Read more »
Ok, so we are returning to serfdom? I this is capitilism, I work for money, not for the pleasure, or else I would only do things I like…If it is not OK for the company, then fire me.. I would not reduce my income for the company, ot do you think that the company will share good times money with the employees? No way! Just for the directorate and the shareholders.. so it is "we lose", "I win".
Even though this is being reported as a "voluntary move", that couldn't be further from the truth, those that are not willing to bite the bullet and do it will be held accountable by management later on, when it comes to raises ,promotions and lay-offs they will find themselves on the wrong end of that list. Is it fair , off course not, but in a depressed economy what are they going to do, quit and go where? The employers are holding all the cards as they do most of the time. Get use to it, this is the future.
Am I surprised ? No. Will I work for free , when I love what you I am doing, it is a big YES. I would ever work 3 months out of 12 for free if that was required in order to do or keep what I love doing, keeping in mind that we are in the 21st century (can’t work 12 for free). Think about artists in past centuries, not greedy about money, struggling everyday to get something to eat, those who would never give up their passion, their interest, for a boring job to pay their rent. They… Read more »
Sure I would work for free – IF and only IF the electric company, my landlord, the daycare and the grocery store agree to provide their services or food for free to me and the family I suppport. I love my job (I’ve finally realized a 20-yr dream) but I have to be able to be able to provide a roof over my kids heads, food on the table and electric to stay warm. My suggestion – ask every CEO that makes more than 100,000/year to work for free for 5 years and pass his salary on to his employees… Read more »
Ok, so we are returning to serfdom? I this is capitilism, I work for money, not for the pleasure, or else I would only do things I like…
If it is not OK for the company, then fire me.. I would not reduce my income for the company, ot do you think that the company will share good times money with the employees? No way! Just for the directorate and the shareholders.. so it is “we lose”, “I win”.
Even though this is being reported as a “voluntary move”, that couldn’t be further from the truth, those that are not willing to bite the bullet and do it will be held accountable by management later on, when it comes to raises ,promotions and lay-offs they will find themselves on the wrong end of that list. Is it fair , off course not, but in a depressed economy what are they going to do, quit and go where? The employers are holding all the cards as they do most of the time. Get use to it, this is the future.