Your friendly Ostrich Killer was SHOCKED - Shocked, you hear? - to learn recently that at least one major airline has flight attendant compensation rules that few sane Americans would tolerate. Not sure what that says about flight attendants, but hey. Let me paint just one picture of how the flight attendants get paid at this particular major airline:
They dress, make their way to the airport without getting paid. So? you say. You commute to work every day and you don't get paid for that either. And that's true.
Next, they sit like everyone else and wait their turn to board the aircraft. They have to do this because they're not sure if boarding will begin a few minutes early. No pay. But there they are in the airport. Airline rules say: "That's not your place of work." No pay.
The flight is delayed. They still sit there, time ticking by. No pay. And they can't leave under pain of firing. They're not on the job, they're not getting paid, but they can't leave?
Eventually the flight arrives, they get to board. They stow their luggage and do a bunch of cabin prep work. And here's where it gets interesting: the airplane door hasn't closed, so they don't get paid. Wait, you say. They're doing their jobs but they don't get paid? That's right. The door is still open. No pay.
Finally here come the passengers. Throngs of them. The flight attendants help board them, show them their seats, stow outsized luggage somewhere (they always seem to have space somewhere), lift bags to the overhead for the feeble lame or lazy, smile and be pleasant. But of course the doors are still open. So they don't get paid. WHAT???? All that work but still no pay? That's right. They're on the job for free so far.
The passengers are seated and discover that there is a storm in the area and departure will be delayed. They sit at the terminal. Flight attendants scurry up and down the aisles passing out free drinks and twigs and condolences. They take verbal abuse because they're the nearest airline-related target. The doors haven't closed. Nearly 3 hours later the storm has passed enough that departure prep can begin. The doors close. NOW they start getting paid.
Some of us - I'm one of them - would say that's fine, if that's the rules and the flight attendants agree to work that way, that's their choice. But doesn't it seem logical that they should be getting paid from the time they get to the boarding gate not more than an hour ahead of their scheduled flight, until they deplane at the destination? There they are, on the job.
Your Ostrich Killer thinks that a good place to recruit dedicated, work-ethic enriched talent with supreme people skills and demonstrated learning ability would be on board an airliner. There they are - talent, charm and intelligence on the hoof. Go get them.
Yes, you executives out there. Hire these people away from this nonsense! Most can be had starting, for a hard worker, for less than $30k. Offer to train them whatever technical skills they need to move up in your organizations. They're looking for a way out - show them a way up instead. Give them your card. Ask them to send you a resume and describe briefly the type of work they'd do. Mention your 401K plan, the health maintenance plan, the locations of your offices, other simple stuff. Be encouraging. And if you have concerns about your aging workforce, many of these flight attendants are in their early to mid 20s. A little basic selectivity as to who you give your card to could be part of a solution, don't you think?
Yes, you do. You're welcome!
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