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Qantas Wants 100 Execs To Work As Ground Handlers For 3 Months

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Qantas is asking 100 executives and senior managers to swap the soft office seats and personal assistants for a three-month spell as a ground handler. The embattled airline has put an HQ SOS out, asking for volunteers. The temporary work placements will run for 90 days on a five-day-a-week basis, although there is no suggestion the executives will receive the same low weekly wage as the permanent ground handling crews. (www.msn.com) और अधिक...

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xtoler
Larry Toler 43
I'd like to see more companies do this.
jbqwik
jbqwik 16
planeguy53
planeguy53 3
They can't in the US. Due to Union Contracts!
musephoto
Geoff Rowe 31
Maybe this is also a way to see which overpaid execs they can do without.
bentwing60
bentwing60 8
jbermo
jbermo 29
Volunteer?? Hell, such a policy should be mandatory.
sparkie624
sparkie624 45
I think that is a Great idea.... So many of the Managers have not done the job of their subordinates for a such a long time and some never have... They need to know what the Job is before they figure out ways to assign it.
watkinssusan
mary susan watkins 5
SPARKIE..YOU ARE SO RIGHT!MANY YEARS AGO, THE CEO OF SOUTHWEST AIRLINES WOULD GO OUT AND WORK ON THE RAMP,AT THE TICKET COUNTER AND EVEN ONBOARD WITH THE F/AS'S TO LET THE EMPLOYEES KNOW HE CARED AND UNDERSTOOD ALL ASPRCTS OF THE COMPANY..HE HAD BEEN A MECHANIC HIMSELF!WHEN I WAS WORKING,NOT ONLY ME, BUT MOST OF MY FELLOW EMPLOYEES WISHED OUR LOCAL MANAGER WOULD GO AROUND AND ACTUALLY DO SOME OF THE WORK WE DID SO HE WOULD UNDERSTAND BETTER..HE ENJOYED THE SUIT AND TIE SITTING IN THE OFFICE AND GOING TO HDQ FOR MEETINGS TOO MUCH HOWEVER, AS HIS "START" HAD BEEN IN THE SALES OFFICE!AT LEAST THE CEO OF OUR COMPANY HAD YEARLY MEETINGS OPEN TO ALL EMPLOYEES TO ADDRESS CONCERNS AND ISSUES,WHICH INCLUDED PERSONAL AND WRITTEN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FACING ALL EMPLOYEE GROUPS,HOWEVER, AS WITH MOST LARGE COMPANIES, WHEN ONE OF THE "BIG WIGS" FROM HEADQUARTERS WOULD COME TO ACTUALLY VISIT LOCALLY, EVERYTHING WAS PRISTINE AND FINE AND THE CITY MANAGER WALKED AROUND WITH HIM OR HER TO MAKE SURE NOTHING WAS SAID THAT MIGHT BE AN ISSUE..THIS IS HOW IT WORKS IN MOST CASES..
mbrews
mbrews 37
Kindly turn off CAPS LOCK ….
augerin
Dave Mathes 3
watkinssusan
mary susan watkins -5
sorry to offend you..no one is perfect and my computer keys stuck..have a great day mbrews..
sparkie624
sparkie624 16
It is just that it makes it so hard to read... Nothing personal... Also, it gives the appearance of shouting.
richardpraus
richard praus 0
sO, wHen peoPle dO thIs, it's sO much eaSieR to rEad?
sparkie624
sparkie624 1
TimDyck
Tim Dyck -6
It’s sad that some people are that easily offended. I had no problem reading your post and quite enjoyed it.
chugheset
chugheset 14
It's not offense. Typing in all caps is the equivalent of shouting. This has been standard Internet courtesy since the beginning. I agree with sparkie624, it makes it harder to read. Again, courtesy. not offense.
zulu1953
K R 1
You would then be part of the minority of readers. Just saying. Writing is about communicating a message. The better writer you are, following the standards of writing developed and taught at school. the better your message will be understood. Just like at junior school - all caps is considered only for short/simple messages and shouting (like BEWARE OF THE DOG) - so not appropriate for the message MSW was trying to get across. Of course if she really meant to SHOUT then ok.
glendakrull
Glenda Krull -5
You are kidding, right? You know you can't hear that comment?
sparkie624
sparkie624 1
Ask a Def Person how they Hear!
DavidInThailand
David Folkard -2
Ask an intelligent person how they spell.
sparkie624
sparkie624 1
LOL... I Just noticed... "Deaf" More of a Fat finger than a Typo!
glendakrull
Glenda Krull -4

[This comment has been downvoted. Show anyway.]

sparkie624
sparkie624 17
Easier to read version: Sparkie..You are so right!Many years ago, the ceo of southwest airlines would go out and work on the ramp,at the ticket counter and even onboard with the f/as's to let the employees know he cared and understood all asprcts of the company..He had been a mechanic himself!When I was working,not only me, but most of my fellow employees wished our local manager would go around and actually do some of the work we did so he would understand better..He enjoyed the suit and tie sitting in the office and going to hdq for meetings too much however, as his "Start" had been in the sales office!At least the ceo of our company had yearly meetings open to all employees to address concerns and issues,which included personal and written questions and answers facing all employee groups,however, as with most large companies, when one of the "Big wigs" from headquarters would come to actually visit locally, everything was pristine and fine and the city manager walked around with him or her to make sure nothing was said that might be an issue..This is how it works in most cases..
augerin
Dave Mathes 6
...well done , sparkman...my eyes stopped bleeding with your version...
augerin
Dave Mathes 1
...no offense, marysusan...
Propwash122
Peter Fuller 4
The task-sharing by Southwest staff was not without hiccups. Some years ago I was about to board a Southwest flight at PVD. One of our flight attendants suffered an injury on the ramp while moving baggage, so couldn’t work the flight. Two-plus hour delay, until an FA coming off an arrival could and did volunteer to work my flight.
LeanderWilliams
Leander Williams 4
Everyone liked working for Herb Kelleher.
saso792
saso792 18
Then they can do 3 months as a flight attendant, three months at the gate and three months at the ticket counter or taking calls.
sparkie624
sparkie624 28
Great idea... But don't let them do 3 Months in Maintenance...
augerin
Dave Mathes 9
...but, it wouldn't hurt to have them trail along to see what REALLY goes into keeping an AC up and going...
TimDyck
Tim Dyck 3
Maybe if they saw the layers of paperwork slowing the techs and mechanics down they might find a way to streamline things so the maintenance staff spend more time doing their jobs and less at a desk.
DougHaviland
Doug Haviland 2
Maybe only observe in the maintenance department. I’d say most executives don’t know which end of a screwdriver to hold. Overall it sounds like a great idea.
Propwash122
Peter Fuller 4
Office help couldn’t fill in as FAs without first getting the required training and certification. Otherwise a good idea.
hangar14
Rick D 2
And then send them (if they are with A/C) to YYZ to deal with their "we're not happy, 'til you're not happy" customers
N204TA
N204TA 13
When I first started with America West Airlines in Phoenix, most of the frontline employees were “fully cross utilized.” They had their primary job but were also required to spend time in other areas. For example, pilots would work in the dispatch office and flight attendants would work on the ramp, at the ticket counter, or at the reservations call center. We not only had people that were qualified to fill in when or where they needed, it reminded everyone that we were a team and no one job was above another.
ceja111
Edgar Reyes 6
Every single business should be like that. You get the best of people in that way in all areas in that way. With the exception of piloting planes. :)
Propwash122
Peter Fuller 4
Yes, management and office folks can’t pilot planes (unless licensed and current), but they and the organization might benefit if they shadowed pilots: ride in a jump seat, follow pilots through a duty day, stay in the same hotels on overnights and layovers, etc. Their instructions would be shut up, watch, listen, learn.
victorbravo77
victorbravo77 2
Cross-training isn't a new idea.
sgbelverta
sharon bias 12
Ground handler is a tough job physically. So for those who can't "handle" that sort of work, make them handle customer service jobs....like the lost luggage department, or escorting unaccompanied minors, or working the gate on flights cancelled or delayed. That would be just as effective in making management know what's right or wrong with the airline.
ChrisCollingwood
Chris Collingwood 8
Years ago I worked in a Tea processing plant. Their management had scheduled days where they worked on a rotation through all areas of the plant. Even as a seconded contractor, I joned that rotation. It was more of a novelty for me, but I found it improved the raport between all staff.
acousticmikeb
Mike Butkovic 7
I’d do that and it would be a blast as an exec. Plus you’d get to see the current ops up close which will make you a better leader, while setting an example for others. I’d be happy to do that!
mbrews
mbrews 7
From the article -

" (Qantas) drastically reduced its workforce during the pandemic, including outsourcing around 1,700 ground handling jobs. Reliable ground handling services, or rather, the lack of them, is one of the big problems Qantas faces " ...

Further from the article -

"The ground handling contractors are busy trying to rehire, but the pay and conditions are so subpar that there are relatively few takers. Still, there might be some frank conversations at the baggage loading belt between some under-the-pump Dnata employee ground handler and a well-oiled Qantas exec moonlighting for a few months. It could be illuminating for both sides. "
srobak
srobak 2
guess you shouldn't have reduced your workforce if the answer was to then outsource it. that was pretty dumb. you reap what you sow.
Windrider6
Bruce Johnson 6
This is funny! I can imagine the mistakes.
By the way, the real link to this story is:
https://simpleflying.com/qantas-executives-managers-redeploy-ground-handling-3-months/

For some reason, the person posting the stories here from SimpleFlying.com, and some other websites, always gives an MSN link for the stories. I don't see any reason for supporting Microsoft. Go to the source!
LynnGoss
Lynn Goss 5
If they can do without 100 execs for 3 months, maybe they don't need them at all.
victorbravo77
victorbravo77 4
One of the basic lessons I learned in leadership school was to never ask your charges to do something you, yourself, would not do.

I think it was in the Army lol.
hangar14
Rick D 3
Lynn, that was my exact thought when I read the story intro. Maybe do an Eddie Murphy - Dan Ackroyd Trading Places switch. Let the ground handlers enjoy a few months in an exec suite.
ColinSeftel
Colin Seftel 5
I wonder how the powerful Australian trade unions will react to having non-members doing their jobs.
mbrews
mbrews 3
The (possibly unionized) ground handlers (1700 of them) were laid off and replaced by a contracted OUTSOURCED operation. Paying peanuts with no job security. These facts are in the article.

once again - From the article -

" (Qantas) drastically reduced its workforce during the pandemic, including outsourcing around 1,700 ground handling jobs. Reliable ground handling services, or rather, the lack of them, is one of the big problems Qantas faces " ...

Further from the article -

"The ground handling contractors are busy trying to rehire, but the pay and conditions are so subpar that there are relatively few takers. Still, there might be some frank conversations at the baggage loading belt between some under-the-pump Dnata employee ground handler and a well-oiled Qantas exec moonlighting for a few months. It could be illuminating for both sides. "

poetic justice IMO. The very execs who decided to outsource ground handling are being asked to "eat their own dog food" and experience the consequences of their decisions.
ColinSeftel
Colin Seftel 3
Quite right mbrews! There's evidence that Qantas outsourced ground handler jobs as part of a deliberate strategy to shed union members from its payroll. In 2021 a judge found that Qantas had engaged in “contravening conduct” by outsourcing the employees’ jobs, in a decision partially motivated by avoiding future industrial action. In May this year, Qantas lost an appeal in Federal Court and plans to take the case to the High Court. If it loses again it could be liable for hefty costs including compensating the sacked workers as well as facing penalties.
TimDyck
Tim Dyck 2
That’s something the article didn’t address. I would like to think the people who came up with this idea consulted the unions but if they didn’t they will get a lesson on how the relationship between company and union works.
TorstenHoff
Torsten Hoff 1
The unions might be supportive. It would help management understand the issues and conditions that the ground handlers deal with every day.
Improgro
Graham Shaw 5
Maybe those same execs should also do a stint in customer service instead of Qantas customer service being based in South Africa, robbing Australians of jobs.
srobak
srobak 4
Best idea an airline has had in a really long time. I'd be happy if they would do it for 3 weeks, nevermind 3 months. Oh - and they also need to swap their salary, as well. It is time these execs learn or remember what it is like to work in the real world, for the crumbs they pay.
vulcancruiser
Larry Loffelmacher 4
100% in favor......great workout.....
madrockradio
James Cross 7
This could turn out really well. I used to do music tours, including Vans Warped Tour (the biggest traveling festival the US ever had). I saw Kevin Lyman, the founder of the festival, moving porta potties one day. He was ready to do whatever it takes to make the show go well - more execs should be like that!
Rooshooter
Neil Cutten 3
They should receive the same remuneration and benefits (or lack thereof) whilst doing the job.
Many will lose sight of the experience after time so maybe it should be a scheduled period every 2 years.
steerts
Ron Streetenberger 3
will 100 ground handlers be transferred to the executive positions for three months and receive the increase in pay that the position affords? Just askin.
A6SEA
Bill Butler 2
I can't imagine they'd all go at the same time. That's not good planning, redundant or not.
victorbravo77
victorbravo77 1
Great idea! Mayor for a day.
ceja111
Edgar Reyes 3
Just like the Japanese send the top executives to work on the floor for a while so they will know how the decisions that they make is going to affect the company down the chain.
Zot22
Bab Bezat 3
All well and good - but those full-time baggage handlers need to be guaranteed a much higher wage for the work they do. I'm skeptical that having these execs do the work will change anything in the long run.
sparkie624
sparkie624 3
Probably won't... They will get out there, take the easy way out and not do it correctly and then say it is an Easy Menial Job and not work a pay increase... This way they can say they have done it, when in reality they didn't... Self proclaimed Bragging Rights!
Cabot490
David Fardy 3
Excellent and from it creative innovation will flow.
HelMol
Helen mollet 2
Yes, with lots of improvements...may be???
rfalgout
Ronnie Falgout 3
I think they will learn a lot if they do it and end up with a more successful business because of it.
eno17
Evan Oulashin 3
I know - let's send 'em up to the ATC room in the tower! That oughta be illuminating...
nasdisco
Chris B 5
Wonder if the volunteers will discover their cushy desk job "eliminated" after they "do their time" as baggage handlers.

Because nobody noticed anything bad happening when they went MIA.
mutrock
Mark Kortum 2
When I started as an entry level Hospital Exec. at University of Chicago I was required to work in the Emergency Department one weekend night per month. It was a great thing to see the operations first hand. I am sure it will work for Qantas too.
HelMol
Helen mollet 2
Great idea! I was a ground handler/ ramp agent. It is hard work work for little pay in ALL kinds of weather elements, delayed flights, broken down acft, cancelled flights, lost bags, etc., etc.
Dedwards84
D Edwards 2
This has been happening for 100 years in many industries. Start at the bottom and work your way up. I started as a field service tech, through hard work and being promoted I worked as the Director of Field Engineering my last decade on the job.
wiff2110
Peter Ward 2
Sounds like a sensible move to me, would also show who was company dedicated or those along for the money.
I would like to see B.A. follow this example.
DavidInThailand
David Folkard 2
They're not needed for 3 months? Make them redundant.
chugheset
chugheset 2
Ticket/gate agent as well. Totally thankless job. At least the ground handlers don't have to deal with some of the lunatics in the traveling public.
TimDyck
Tim Dyck 1
Hot sun on the tarmac in the summer followed by a cold winter. Rain, shine, hail, wind, jet exhaust… they get it all and would probably enjoy working inside a building with a decent HVAC system. But I doubt their people skills would be very refined and we all know you cannot tell a customer to fuck off and die even though some of them desperately deserve it. I respect the patience of those who deal with the customers especially these days with late or cancelled flights and the epidemic of lost luggage. I couldn’t do that job without losing it and ending up in prison.
KennyFlys
Ken Lane 2
Excellent! Make those college kids earn their place at the adult table.

In an interview with Warren Cassell Jr, Koch stated that as a child he did not live a privileged lifestyle despite growing up in a wealthy family. Koch said, "My father wanted me to work as if I was the poorest person in the world."

https://www.warrencasselljr.com/interview-with-charles-koch.html
SkyAware123
SkyAware123 1
Those college kids are living/not working from moms basement. What you talking about?
KennyFlys
Ken Lane 1
I'm referring to a work ethic or lack of it, today. They want to make the money but they don't want to work their way up and earn it.
SkyAware123
SkyAware123 1
Those are definitely not 'execs' as what this article is about.
SkyAware123
SkyAware123 2
THey might learn something. OR it's just a giant publicity stunt.
paa00194
Jim Albies 2
I wonder if the Exec’s will be on second shift with tues/wendsday off??
sparkie624
sparkie624 3
banana
James Eaton 1
great believer in this ethos - it should be done at every company as a matter of course. Perhaps three months is a tad long, though. Oh, and for the COO or CEO to phone their company from an external location to hear the response.... (I did that once and was shocked....)
Moviela
Ric Wernicke 1
It's the worse thing to do. I see guys from HQ come, put on a uniform and work the front line. They cannot keep up, and have no enthusiasm for the tasks at hand. Things are going so well at Qantas with baggage delivery now that they can afford to put a roadblock in service delivery?
TWA55
TWA55 1
Boy, what a great idea, lol, how many times I heard this from fellow employees about management who dream up things and have no idea what they are doing. Well, glad to see QANTAS stepped up to the plate. As far as the unions go, if the members like their job as is, by all means have at it, support your local union and keep on complaining. (From an old airline employee)
silvanocerboneschi
silvano Cerboneschi 1
Good idea, same shuold be applied to Italian EX ALITALIA new ATI
evvvvv
I Dunno 1
TimDyck
Tim Dyck 1
So they created a problem by letting workers go and then not offering enough money to rehire and now the solution is to get people several pay grades higher to do the work.
First off it seems that they could offer better wages and benefits to attract workers.
Secondly if they can go without these execs for a period of time then I can see a place were they can cut costs to offset the cost of those better wages.

silvanocerboneschi
silvano Cerboneschi 1
Good news, should be allply to ex alitalia too now renamed as ITA
zulu1953
K R 1
Job shadowing has been a good idea for many years. After my shiny new chemical engineering degree in the mid 70's I joined Shell to work at one of their major refineries. First 3 months - work on shift with operators and learn what they do and how (in future) you can help them do it. You are being taught how to be an good operator with the clear intention that you will never actually be one: therefore unions have no problem. This was normal for Shell worldwide. Since baggage handling is a very physical exercise where the physical parts could not be done by 100 older people, Qantas are clearly taking about working the shift with real baggage handlers to supplement them, not replace them. I think that MSN reporters are getting it wrong again.
Propwash122
Peter Fuller 1
Don’t blame MSN reporters. MSN merely republished an article from SimpleFlying, a portal not known for precise journalism.
ko25701
ko25701 1
They should make the execs be Flight Attemdants too.
SkyAware123
SkyAware123 -1
I'd like to see joe biden work some fast food for 3 months...
jbressler
JOHN BRESSLER 2
I'd like to see trump making license plates.
zulu1953
K R 1
You mean any work that is not for his benefit.
eno17
Evan Oulashin 0
He'd fail miserably. He just can't remember what Step 2 is...
zulu1953
K R 0
You are aiming too high. I would take any work.
M20ExecDriver
M20ExecDriver 0
These one trick ponies can't cut grass let alone do something that involves something other than moving their typing fingers. This ought to make for some great You Tube videos.
zulu1953
K R 1
I don't think that's the intent if you think about it. If it were then clearly Qantas next move would be to get sufficient baggage handlers on staff and then use them to pilot the aircraft because of the shortage of pilots or get sufficient pilots and then ask them to become managers at head office. Doesn't make sense. Its always "horses for courses" in any business. This is about supplementing baggage handlers in the short term and reminding one job category that the other job category can be as challenging to perform as theirs is. Those typing ponies that you are talking about are most probably doing a job that you cannot do.
victorbravo77
victorbravo77 1
I'm thinking of the TV show "Undercover Boss" lol! But, let's not be predjudicial.
sjpalmer
Steven Palmer 0
God Idea --- after all it is THEY, that have NOT recruited enough staff and failed completely in their management duties --- so now LET THEM SUFFER ..... OR FIRE THEM!!!!!
zulu1953
K R 1
Its got more to do with firing the wrong staff quality and quantity. Yes, also creating a attractive (to good workers) work environment for staff hiring and retention, but this in Australia is often impossible since the unions dictate the working conditions not the employer. Personally I would get Qantas corporate management AND Qantas union management together send them down to help the workers. Both managements are complete failures as far as these workers are concerned - let them both suffer the verbal abuse that they will get.
ewrcap
David Beattie 0
Gee. Just like Communist China
zulu1953
K R 1
Or any communist system; ask all of those lab scientists in the Gulags (still). Or the Cubans etc, ect. etc. Anyone you don't like goes to the coal face (or any other worst job you have). But I don't see that as the motivations here. This is not a case of "I will make your work life a living hell until you resign".
ssobol
Stefan Sobol 0
Problem is that a lot of senior execs are probably seniors. Putting them on the ramp might cause more problems than it solves (e.g. VP injuring his back throwing bags).
zulu1953
K R 2
They are there to "assist" not actually do the work - clearly MSN are sensationalizing; don't fall for it - its fake news.
Fatemaabusamra7777
Fatema Abusamra -6
Please conant me i need invitation to Dubai
srobak
srobak 1
this is the wrong place for you
zulu1953
K R 1
Qantas needs baggage handlers in Australia - contact the Australian Transport Workers Union (internet search will give you the contact details) for an invitation. Qantas do not do direct hiring, it is up to the Transport Workers Union to supply them.

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