Work for free?

[thetreble 19]

British Airways has convinced 800 workers to work for free for the month of July

[My Name Is Nobody 3]

I would like to hear the sales pitch they used.

[The_Dude 1,142]

I would like to hear the sales pitch they used.

I'd wager that they used the same sales pitch that has been used before in a situation like this. You can take this temporary pay cut, or you can take a more permanent one and look for a job. I really hope that they didn't agree to it without significant safeguards.

[thetreble 19]

I couldn't imagine working for a whole month without making a cent though! That's pretty crazy.

[Nik+Heather 122]

I couldn't imagine working for a whole month without making a cent though! That's pretty crazy.

It's just like going to school. You pay to go there in order to get a good job at the end.

Think of this the same way. They are working for free in the hopes that there will still be a good job at the end.

I agree about the safe guards, I'd want to know that they had done the numbers and that was the extent of it, and that those who took the pay cut would be the LAST to go if layoffs started happening.

Edited June 25, 2009 by Nik+Heather

[The_Dude 1,142]

I couldn't imagine working for a whole month without making a cent though! That's pretty crazy.

I did it once. I was naive and just out of college. It was a dotcom company, back in the days of the dotcom era. I really should have seen the writing on the wall, I was working in the finance and accounting department. The CEO brought us all into the conference room and said that he needed us all to take a pay deferment for one month until they were able to complete a deal to secure bridge financing. What he didn't say was that they were getting the financing to pay off the creditors and close the business. I ended up suing the CEO and COO for breach of contract in labor court. I had my trusty business law textbook with me and was able to pierce the corporate veil to prove that the CEO and COO were personally liable for the misdeeds of the company. Unfortunately, the state of california changed the laws regarding this during the course of the judges deliberation. I ended up getting $0.001 on the dollar in the settlement.

If I were faced with a furlough or a pay deferment, i'd agree to it initially to keep my insurance, but I'd also be looking for a new job ASAP.

[thetreble 19]

Well my union has just agreed to no wage increase and a bunch of furlough days, but how do you support a family on nothing?

And Nik, with all due respect, while you may be trying to make an analogy to school, the point is, is that it's not school; it's work. They are really two completely different situations.

Why would you stick around if there was still a possibility you'd get laid off any ways? Again, I don't know the stipulations surrounding the deal, but if you have mouths to feed...probably should be looking for a new job.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

yeah, but in this economy they will probably get away with it, unfortunately.

[The_Dude 1,142]

They will get away with it if it is what it appears to be on the surface. If they try to push this further than a month, I think the employees will see through it. Airline jobs are fairly high paying, so I suspect that is why people are willing to go through this on a short term basis.

[mawilson 2,133]

I would like to hear the sales pitch they used.

Work for free or don't work at all.

[My Name Is Nobody 3]

I would like to hear the sales pitch they used.

Work for free or don't work at all.

That dont sound right

[thetreble 19]

I would like to hear the sales pitch they used.

Work for free or don't work at all.

Probably right...but it's funny how so many are under the assumption they can't get another job...ever.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I would like to hear the sales pitch they used.

Work for free or don't work at all.

Probably right...but it's funny how so many are under the assumption they can't get another job...ever.

there's not getting a job, ever, and then there's not getting another job this year or for the foreseeable future.

I know a number of people who've been asked to take salary cuts recently, which is what this really is, because of the economy. It really sucks.

[mawilson 2,133]

I would like to hear the sales pitch they used.

Work for free or don't work at all.

That dont sound right

I know - LOL

If that was the choice, most people would choose not to work at all.

[Nik+Heather 122]

I'm sure that there are more than 800 people who work for BA.

No, not everyone is as financially prepared to weather a few missed pay checks (a month is two). But if you are able to do so, there is some good will capital that I'm sure they must be earning.....I hope. The idea is that this, like school, could be seen as an investment in your future career. Also, had they quit, I'm not sure in this economy that they wouldn't miss more than two pay checks.

All that said, I am surprised that they managed to find that many people to voluntarily say they wouldn't take pay unless it's the same way other voluntary things happens like - no severance pay unless you agree to sign this paper which says you won't sue to company.

Edited June 25, 2009 by Nik+Heather