BA Staff Sign Up To Work For Free

British Airways has announced that 800 staff have volunteered to work unpaid over the coming weeks after the company's appeal to staff for help in the business's fight for survival.

Alongside the 800 who will be working for free, thousands of others have signed up for voluntary pay cuts in support of the airline's cost reduction programme.

Of the 40,000-strong workforce, 6,940 employees had volunteered for unpaid leave, part-time working or unpaid work by Wednesday last week. BA says their actions will save the company up to £10m.

Willie Walsh, British Airways' Chief Executive, commented:

"This is a fantastic first response. I want to thank everyone who has volunteered to help us pull through this difficult period.

"This response clearly shows the significant difference individuals can make."

Options were made available for staff to volunteer for between one and four weeks of unpaid leave or unpaid work, with the pay deduction spread over three or six months. The options also included switches to part-time working or longer periods of unpaid leave.

Other airlines, including Cathay Pacific, have launched similar schemes and most of their employees have reportedly signed up. 

When the scheme was announced recently, Mike Emmott of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), commented:

“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.”

Source: workplacelaw.net