VA Bain culture and its CEO under fire

[Melburnian1]

The article is paywalled, so pointless including the link as it won't work, but Joe Aston in 'Rear Window' ('Australian Financial Review') this morning has a major article criticising Jayne Hrdlicka as (among other things) 'remarkably tone deaf' and a 'gifted self-immolator'. He suggests that there've been numerous media reports of Virgin Australia's 'dysfunctional workplace culture'.

There's also a very funny long reference to a raffle VA 2.0 conducted for its staff.

Buy a copy if you wish to read in full. This supports journalism.

 

[Matty F]

This is not the kind of journalism that needs supporting - it's like a bunch of high school girls giggling over juicy gossip.

Seventh prize – of which there were 100 winners – was a pair of Virgin Australia pyjamas, useful particularly for sleeping through Hrdlicka’s next speech at the tennis.

I mean... this is just one of the nasty, trashy cheap-shots. Absolute gutter journalism. There are real journalists out there doing great work, this hack isn't one of them. If you're gonna go for the head of a major Australian carrier, have some solid facts to back up your hysterical nonsense.

Another piece of the article says she "ran Jetstar and The a2 Milk Company without an ounce of human feeling" - this cough would be laughable if it weren't appearing in AFR.

In another hit piece from the same "journalist" this time last year:

Newsflash: Hrdlicka is a real piece of work – and yes, we’d say that about a bloke.

Methinks Joe doth protest too much.

 

[Mattg]

The article is paywalled, so pointless including the link as it won't work, but Joe Aston in 'Rear Window' ('Australian Financial Review') this morning has a major article criticising Jayne Hrdlicka as (among other things) 'remarkably tone deaf' and a 'gifted self-immolator'. He suggests that there've been numerous media reports of Virgin Australia's 'dysfunctional workplace culture'.

There's also a very funny long reference to a raffle VA 2.0 conducted for its staff.

Buy a copy if you wish to read in full. This supports journalism.

You can still post the link as people with an AFR subscription will be able to read the article.

I found the article an entertaining read, purely in terms of the way it was written, but I'm not sure how accurate or useful it is. Clearly Joe has an axe to grind.

 

[Matty F]

I found the article an entertaining read

I'm baffled by this, when did tearing down other people become a form of entertainment?

Then again... I also have now clue how shows like MAFS and the housewife shows are a thing, people actually sit around watching and loving those shows when they could be outside or learning something new? I just don't get it.

 

[Astro]

Probably got held up on a delayed flight over Easter.

 

[Mattg]

I'm baffled by this, when did tearing down other people become a form of entertainment?

Then again... I also have now clue how shows like MAFS and the housewife shows are a thing, people actually sit around watching and loving those shows when they could be outside or learning something new? I just don't get it.

You've quoted half of what I said. The other half was "purely in terms of the way it was written".

The article is written in an amusing way. That doesn't mean I agree with any of the content.

For the record, I also dislike MAFS. But now we're getting off topic.

 

[Blackswan]

I'm baffled by this, when did tearing down other people become a form of entertainment?

Then again... I also have now clue how shows like MAFS and the housewife shows are a thing, people actually sit around watching and loving those shows when they could be outside or learning something new? I just don't get it.

I read it, and thought it hit the nail on the head. Great column piece.

After working in a big organisation with very poor leadership and culture - the fact that someone is calling this out (and not turning a blind eye) is refreshing.

I mean honestly, who would want to have a meeting with the big boss over a business class trip somewhere? Would you?

 

[Must...Fly!]

After working in a big organisation with very poor leadership and culture

The thing is, VA mk1 was absolutely as you describe, and thus far there are only allegations and rumours from people moved aside that the current management are bullies. Though I understand as I guess I would feel the same if sacked.

 

[antycbr]

The thing is, VA mk1 was absolutely as you describe, and thus far there are only allegations and rumours from people moved aside that the current management are bullies. Though I understand as I guess I would feel the same if sacked.

Ultimately, VA2 is privately owned. Providing they don't break IR laws they can run the business as they see fit. If that results in staff churn/attrition then VA2 will have to deal with that in due course.

The people who ran VA1, ran it into the ground. They shouldn't be rewarded.

 

[jakeseven7]

The thing is, VA mk1 was absolutely as you describe,

Leadership was a disaster - that was clearly true.

But the culture at VA1 was often referred to as the best place to work in QLD - people reportedly loved working at the Village apart from the fact the business didn't make any money of course .

We used to be very close to them and most people enjoyed the culture once they toned down the T&A! What makes you say the culture was poor at VA1 as well?

 

[HS-TQE]

The culture at VB/VA 1.0 was reported to gone downhill upon the transition from the Godfrey run cheap and cheerful VB to the Borghetti led 'upmarlet' VA 1.0 transition.

It probably didn't help the top management of the VB era all largely left upon the Borghetti/Foreign shareholder takeover of VB with replacements allegedly hand picked by JB.

 

[Must...Fly!]

My personal belief is that there was some resentment toward the board and upper management due to the method of appointments, and increasing expectation of crew (both in flight and on ground) along with a slight trimming of operational staff as the years went on. The IR situation at VA is/was never as bad as Qantas but it was slowly heading that way I think.

I don't think that all areas of VA mk1 suffered from a negative feeling, but enough to notice. The village might've been a fun place to work but 80 or 90% of the people at the airline wouldn't even know what it looks like...

 

[HS-TQE]

Also noted was the large resentment from staff at levels towards Borghetti towards the end of his time as CEO, considering the rough journey that he, his board and the foreign shareholders had put them through during his time as CEO.

A large 'fall from grace' as opposed to the start of their run during the VB to VA 1.0 transition, where they were seen as saviours in the beginning.

 

[lovestotravel]

QF doesn't know how to look after their staff, they haven't cared since they started putting the A380 cabin crew on NZ contracts and JetConnect on the Trans-Tasman 737's.

Jane has come in with a mission to "save VA" and yes it will ruffle a few feathers, but there are a few too many articles pointing towards "bullying" IMO

Many other public companies can let staff go and not make headlines

 

[Carrots]

Clearly Joe has an axe to grind.

I thought he worked for a newspaper, but may he's a lumberjack, because he seems to have plenty of axes based on his past form!

 

[Melburnian1]

I thought he worked for a newspaper, but may he's a lumberjack, because he seems to have plenty of axes based on his past form!

He's writing a column meant to entertain that mentions the highs and lows. Inevitably unless he's a saint, he'll introduce his biases at times. We all have them.

The newspaper was sued for at least one column he wrote, but I gave up reading about the case as it was incredibly complex and a world away from aviation or any other personal interest.

Following that (which resulted in a payout), almost certainly his potentially more controversial columns would be eyed by an in-house or contracted media law/defamation specialist solicitor before appearing in print and online.

 

[Arkana]

While the executive exits aren't a surprise I'm more worried about the poor "working stiffs" at some airlines.

PayWalled behind the usually anti- union The Australian but here are some extracts;

Once considered a desirable profession, airline cost-cutting and the changing aviation landscape has taken much of the shine off the job with marathon days, low pay and occasionally abusive passengers now the reality.

As a result of overhauled enterprise agreements, the base salary for cabin crew across Australia’s major airlines was now under $50,000 a year, starting from $45,864 with Virgin.
As a result of overhauled enterprise agreements, the base salary for cabin crew across Australia’s major airlines was now under $50,000 a year, starting from $45,864 with Virgin.

Those working at Virgin Australia were also required to clean the aircraft between flights, and some of Qantas’s long haul cabin crew have found themselves sleeping across seats in economy on services to Los Angeles.


Why are they having trouble hiring crew again?

 

[jakeseven7]

Well all the details are now out in the open.

Some references back to the Jetstar days too.

Munches popcorn .

——-

Virgin pilot details Hrdlicka bullying claims​

Virgin Australia’s former chief pilot alleges the group’s chief executive, Jayne Hrdlicka, bullied him by referring to him as part of the “Ansett old boys’ club” and accusing him of failing to rally the troops during a strained pay negotiation.

Fitzgerald claimed Hrdlicka blamed him when Virgin’s proposed enterprise agreement for pilots was voted down by 90 per cent of workers covered by the pay negotiations.

He also alleges that Hrdlicka announced the airline had consulted with the Australian Federation of Air Pilots, which was not supportive of its first officers. The union denied this claim by Hrdlicka.

Fitzgerald also alleges he was held responsible for a $4 million cost blowout in Virgin’s 2020/21 Christmas-New Year flight schedule

“to which the CEO herself had directed additional flights”.

Virgin pilot details Hrdlicka bullying claims

amp.smh.com.au

 

[jakeseven7]

More coverage

——

Ex-Virgin chief pilot takes aim at CEO Jayne Hrdlicka in unfair dismissal claim​

Virgin’s former chief pilot has provided several examples of how he was allegedly ‘bullied’ by CEO Jayne Hrdlicka in court documents.

Virgin Australia’s former chief pilot has claimed CEO Jayne Hrdlicka blamed him for the failure of a new enterprise agreement, in an unfair dismissal claim.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/exvirgin-chief-pilot-takes-aim-at-ceo-jayne-hrdlicka-in-unfair-dismissal-claim/news-story/c2622bef1e89bde6de24db0c4ce43e63?amp&nk=17318757ccd0952428dcae1fd1846ee5-1659022285

 

[Bagpuss]

Fitzgerald also alleges he was held responsible for a $4 million cost blowout in Virgin’s 2020/21 Christmas-New Year flight schedule

“to which the CEO herself had directed additional flights”.

Virgin pilot details Hrdlicka bullying claims

amp.smh.com.au

The word alleges is hearsay. I don't think a CEO would direct additional flights. I wouldn't be surprised if the CEO via management had a discussion with the flight planning team (or whatever they are called) to ensure maximization of aircraft utilization (aka aircraft in the air and bums on seats). However, covid would have been outside anyone's control including Jayne.

This is purely going along with the playbook against the former chief pilot via Jayne / Virgin Australia which is normal.

Why this is in the media is a joke ... It's just popcorn entertainment.