Would You Work For Free To Save Your Company?
- June 18th 2009
I was interested to read this item on USAToday about British Airways’ grand plan to save money after posting a $595 million loss for the past financial year - asking employees to work for free. Head of the company Willie Walsh is leading the way by foregoing his salary for the month of July, though the gesture seems less magnanimous when you realise that his salary must be well over the million dollar mark.
Years ago, I remember getting quite irate when after delivering excellent work and being punctual and efficient for a whole month, I presented my paycheck at the bank and it bounced. That was just one month and the issue was sorted within a couple of days, but it left a bad taste in my mouth.
With redundancy and job losses affecting people in the travel industry and beyond, BA’s move of asking people to volunteer for a pay cut is perhaps better than the alternative. However very few of us can afford to work for less than we already do and no one is likely to be happy about it, a point made strongly by the union which represents BA employees.
What’s your view? Would you work for free to save your employer’s company?
9
