Would you work for free?

j1smithy

BA asks staff to work for nothing

British Airways is asking thousands of staff to work for nothing, for up to one month, to help the airline survive.

The appeal, sent by e-mail to more than 30,000 workers in the UK, asks them to volunteer for between one week and one month's unpaid leave, or unpaid work.

BA's chief executive Willie Walsh has already agreed to work unpaid in July, forgoing his month's salary of £61,000.

Last month, BA posted a record annual loss of £401m, partly due to higher fuel bills and other costs.

'Fight for survival'

BA has said that hundreds of staff have responded positively to the request.

But some employees and unions have condemned the plan, saying improvements in the management of the airline were a bigger priority.

Indeed cabin crew and baggage handlers contacted by the BBC rejected the plan out of hand.

"It's a big no. A very big no. Everyone is up in arms. We're not taking it. I'd love to take a month's unpaid leave but I can't afford to do that," said one baggage handler at Heathrow.

But Mr Walsh said BA's drive to save cash was part of a "fight for survival".

"I am looking for every single part of the company to take part in some way in this cash-effective way of helping the company's survival plan," he said.

"It really counts," he added.

BA has been in urgent talks during the past few weeks with trade unions at the company over other ways to save money.

Details of a large pay and productivity deal are expected to be announced on Wednesday.

Flexible scheme

A company spokesman said it did not have an exact target for the expected savings from its appeal.

"As much as possible, but we don't have a figure," he said.

The idea was first launched last month when the airline asked staff to volunteer for a month's unpaid leave, or to work for free for that time.

That attracted more than 1,000 applicants.

But the company's more recent version of its scheme, launched last week by e-mail and in an article in the internal staff newspaper BA News, is more flexible.

It asks staff to volunteer by the end of this month for between one week and one month of unpaid leave or unpaid work.

The lost salary will be spread over between three and six months.

Unusual

BA said other airlines, such as Cathay Pacific, had launched similar schemes and a majority of their workforces had signed up for them.

Many employers have imposed pay cuts or short-time working since the recession struck the UK last year.

"In certain cases such as Honda, they shut down for several weeks," said Alistair Hatchett of the research organisation Incomes Data Services.

"Where it is obvious the economic circumstances are tough, people are willing to talk.

"Where employers try it on opportunistically, then there is a challenge," he added.

"While some options may seem unattractive, particularly where they involve reduced income, many employees will conclude that the alternative of losing their job looks bleaker," said Mike Emmott of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/business/8102862.stm

What I wonder is how BA will reward their staff that do sign up fo this if they return to profit. I would hope staff would get a bonus equivalent to missed wages rather than BA pay dividends to stockholders.

If your boss asked you to volunteer to work for free would you do it? Or are employers simply exaggerating their hardships in order to squeeze workers even more, in search of larger profit? Personally I'd rather take the months unpaid leave and be quite happy to do so!

stovelid

I, for one, am deeply humbled by Willie's display of altruism.

35notout

With the wages I receive, I may as well be working for free

Super-Rush

No. Slaves work for free.

I'd work as a porn star for free tbh.



If my dick was bigger

Podge2k7

No.

bleg

ah, another chapter of atlas shrugged comes to life.


anti- dog eat dog will be next

super_furry

What a bucket of ****e. Right, so Willie gives up a months wage, he'll still get £671,000 over the course of the year.

Hardly gonna be a struggle for him is it?

pikachucheeks

I'm working for free at the moment!

Sleipnir

Yeah I would if it meant I would keep my job but I'd rather it was split out; say two days a month for a year.

Sofiztikated

Yup, all management here are taking 2 weeks unpaid before the end of the year.

Which would I rather, keep working for same pay, company runs out of money, and be let go OR slight pay cut by everyone, and company keeps on running, and keep my job?

Hmmm. As much as I think I'd like unemployment, I'll fight it as long as I can.

Captain-America

If it was the difference between losing your job and keeping it, you'd be foolish not to.

Whosbetter?

Captain-America wrote: »

If it was the difference between losing your job and keeping it, you'd be foolish not to.

Agreed. You can claim dole for the time you're not paid anyway.
You should'nt be too much out of pocket.

phasers

One month unpaid is asking a bit much of people though in fairness, it should really be spread out. People need money to live on!

Poor Uncle Tom

Have done.

jester77

Unless you are brutal at managing your finances then a 1 month hit is not too bad if it means that you get to stay in a job. Better than a flat out 10% reduction in your wage or queueing in the dole line.

Pop's Diner

Yeah I'd work for free. But that's only because I'm just in the fortunate position that I need to work just to be working rather than for the need of money. However either way if working for free for a month ensured my job for a number of years then I would take that particular hit.

phasers

jester77 wrote: »

Unless you are brutal at managing your finances then a 1 month hit is not too bad if it means that you get to stay in a job. Better than a flat out 10% reduction in your wage or queueing in the dole line.

Maybe for some people, but a lot of people on the lower end of the wage scale live hand to mouth,there wouldn't be enough money for savings etc.
2 or three days less pay per month would be a bit more manageable, and allow people to adjust rather than taking one huge hit.

Oh also I totally agree in the unpaid work to save your job point, just think that having one whole month without money is a bit harsh.

dylano_k

I'd work for a daily blowy off the stewardess's or Flight Attendants as they like to be called !

bleg

better off taking an 8% pay cut than working for free.

BaconZombie

I don't get paid over time so I'm already working for free....

Donkathon

eh hell no

Thundercats Ho

BOFH_139 wrote: »

I don't get paid over time so I'm already working for free....

Same here.
I'd work a month for free, if it was a choice between that, or going on the dole. Hopefully it wont come to that though.

easyeason3

A lot of companies have introduced this already along with a pay cut. I have friends that have to take unpaid leave in order to keep their jobs as well as a 10% pay cut.

The sickening part is that one company is actually doing better than it was this time last year, they just jumped on the band wagon.

But yeah, I would work for free (if I had a job of course), but to take a full month in one go is a bit too much to expect. A week on, week off system would work better or take one day per week over the course of a few months.

admiralofthefleet

yes, i would. i would do anything to save the business

Agent Smith

Depending on the situation


Would do a night or 2 unpaid if it ment i kept my job. wouldnt like to do a month unpaid tho

ScumLord

Captain-America wrote: »

If it was the difference between losing your job and keeping it, you'd be foolish not to.

What!? I barely work for cash, why on earth would I work for nothing? I hate work and they have to make it worth my time to drag myself into work everyday.


An no I'm not taking any responcability for the state of the economy.

murraymar

I was put on a 3 day week earlier this year and now do two days voluntary for a charity. So I work 2 days for free. To be fair its more for sanity then anything else.

dresden8

Whosbetter? wrote: »

Agreed. You can claim dole for the time you're not paid anyway.
You should'nt be too much out of pocket.

No you can't.

highlydebased

This is a recession, GTFO.

Whosbetter?

dresden8 wrote: »

No you can't.

You sure?
I'm on a 3 day week & get paid dole/stamps, whatever for the rest.

swingking

think of it like this. You wouldn't have to pay any income tax

stepbar

Not a chance. I'm underpaid as it is....

Spudmonkey

I would, I enjoy what I do!

Kernel

I'm already working for free by the looks of my bank balance.

ART6

Early in my career I served in the British Merchant Navy. Eventually I reached a rank that entitled me to take my wife with me on one voyage a year. She had to sign ships articles since mine were not passenger ships, and she had to be paid 5 pence a week in wages to avoid breaching the anti slavery laws. So in the UK as I understand it no-one can "volunteer" to work for nothing any more than slaves did. So there:D

dresden8

Whosbetter? wrote: »

You sure?
I'm on a 3 day week & get paid dole/stamps, whatever for the rest.

To qualify for the dole you must be unemployed.

Someone working for free is not unemployed.

You are unemployed for the balance of the week.

BlitzKrieg

Done a good chunk of free work, and have gone above and beyond a call a fair few times. Other times I have outright refused though. Cant do it all the time.


at the moment I would earn 4 euro more if I just quit and went on the dole.

But I rather work and have the experiance for my CV then to quit for 4 euro.

besides its only temporary.

citizen_p

i have... mainly for work rxpeience (ty year) and helping relatives/friends/friends friends


never 9 to 5 mon to friday thouggh (except for work exp) just the odd one or two days here or there.


and it says

British Airways is asking thousands of staff to work for nothing, for up to one month, to help the airline survive.

The appeal, sent by e-mail to more than 30,000 workers in the UK, asks them to volunteer for between one week and one month's unpaid leave, or unpaid work.

i think the majority will do the eave for holidays and then get 2 weeks off later paid for.... or go on the dole for a month

citizen_p

Spudmonkey wrote: »

I would, I enjoy what I do!

and what is it>>????

partyatmygaff

Mousey- wrote: »

and what is it>>????

The world's oldest profession of course.

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

chappy_chap

no way would i work for free it would be aload of bollox....

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

chappy_chap

Captain Morgan wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

ive been trying and still no success...

sells

what company is free? hahah..............ha, well if i was getting paid to work for free yeah.

j1smithy

Captain Morgan wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Thing is i don't think BA can/would go under. At worst it would be sold and some not all would lose their jobs or it would be nationalised. The thing I'm afraid of here is that something like this sets a dangerous precident ie. mismanagement of a company the ordinary staff take the flak... Then they return to profit only to see shareholders rewarded, not the people that made the real sacrifices.