Virgin Atlantic crew sent 'abusive message' to passenger screens

[nlagalle]

I wonder who decided to type the message in!

RED-faced Virgin Atlantic cabin crew face the sack after sending an alleged foul message to passengers' TV screens.

Flight staff had intended to wake sleeping colleagues by sending a private message to their screens.
However, the words ‘Get up, you c***s' is believed to have accidently appeared on all premium economy monitors during a flight from Orlando, Florida to Glasgow instead

Virgin crew sent 'abusive message' to passenger screens | Herald Sun

 

[rwatts]

How do you "wake a sleeping colleague" by sending a message to their screen ?

Why try to spin the act of sending stupid messages among themselves (and failing) with an implausible excuse ?

 

[UP4014]

Ooooh, a few free credits handed out after this one no doubt.:shock:

 

[Sifor]

Considering two flight attendants and the cabin manager are going to be sacked, this shows making jokes even to your colleagues can cost you your job..

 

[TonyHancock]

At least those in upper class were spared from seeing the message.

Interesting that it went only to premium economy. It was pretty silly behaviour, but I'm not sure sacking them is the answer.

 

[Nigelinoz]

I'm starting to wonder about the calibre of crew that VS is employing at the moment,a few weeks ago Virgin were going to sack cabin crew who had stolen cash that a passenger had given them for an upgrade now this.
These people are on the frontline of the airline and are supposed to be professional,doesn't give me a whole lot of confidence in them.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[anat0l]

It was pretty silly behaviour, but I'm not sure sacking them is the answer.

The company could clearly do without these idiots. Send them on their way. At a minimum, the reputation of the company has been brought into disrepute. It probably also flashes some light on the company culture, despite probably some claims that "this is an isolated incident".

I'm not sure some of the public would not feel comfortable even being checked in by these people.

We could argue that the public are 'soft', need to 'harden up' and should look at this as an honest, one-off mistake, but I don't know that people are necessarily that easily nor satisfactorily placated.

 

[TonyHancock]

The company could clearly do without these idiots. Send them on their way. At a minimum, the reputation of the company has been brought into disrepute. It probably also flashes some light on the company culture, despite probably some claims that "this is an isolated incident".

I'm not sure some of the public would not feel comfortable even being checked in by these people.

We could argue that the public are 'soft', need to 'harden up' and should look at this as an honest, one-off mistake, but I don't know that people are necessarily that easily nor satisfactorily placated.

I agree it was a very stupid thing to do, but if you have employees who have an unblemished record, and go on to make a mistake, even as bad as this, is instant dismissal really the answer?

Whilst the language is appalling, nobody was physically hurt, the plane didn't crash, and safety wasn't compromised.

Like everyone else here I can only go on what is in the article so I don't know the ins and outs of the individual crew members, but I'd like to think I'd be prepared to give anyone a second chance. I know I make enough mistakes!

 

[flychrisfly]

If I saw this appear on my screen I would have cracked up knowing full well it was a mistake. Not sure the 'c' word is appropriate in any professional environment but a message in that vein is not unreasonable as a joke between colleagues.

 

[UP4014]

I agree it was a very stupid thing to do, but if you have employees who have an unblemished record, and go on to make a mistake, even as bad as this, is instant dismissal really the answer?

Whilst the language is appalling, nobody was physically hurt, the plane didn't crash, and safety wasn't compromised.

Like everyone else here I can only go on what is in the article so I don't know the ins and outs of the individual crew members, but I'd like to think I'd be prepared to give anyone a second chance. I know I make enough mistakes!

I would have said an aircraft is no place for a practical joke, even one that doesn't compromise any safety. They need to go, set the example, may improve the focus of the rest of the employees.

 

[harvyk]

If I saw this appear on my screen I would have cracked up knowing full well it was a mistake. Not sure the 'c' word is appropriate in any professional environment but a message in that vein is not unreasonable as a joke between colleagues.

I agree, I'd have probably had a good laugh about it...
Knowing virgins general relaxed attitude towards things I'd probably question the "c" word, but I wouldn't have been shocked, and I certainly wouldn't be seeking compensation...

 

[Sifor]

If it had have been "Get up, you lazy coughs!" or something to that effect my opinion would be different. The c word makes it quite unacceptable.

 

[trooper]

On both the FF boards I visit I note a tendency of many to call for instant sacking of any airline/security/airport employee who acts in a way those folks deem out of line.

That's fair enough.. everyone has a right to an opinion. I do wonder however if they would be happy for the same rigidly strict/no second chance standard to be applied to them.

Remember.. we are not talking about something "you" do that is judged by your peers or by some board of review....


I'm sure if we knew what all the "sack 'em" crowd actually did we could produce appropriate examples of what they should be instantly dumped for! And I suspect that would be considered "different'!

Pardon me, me cynicism is showing again......

So someone screwed up .. big time... ONCE. How about a bit of counselling etc?

 

[anat0l]

On both the FF boards I visit I note a tendency of many to call for instant sacking of any airline/security/airport employee who acts in a way those folks deem out of line.

That's fair enough.. everyone has a right to an opinion. I do wonder however if they would be happy for the same rigidly strict/no second chance standard to be applied to them.

Remember.. we are not talking about something "you" do that is judged by your peers or by some board of review....


I'm sure if we knew what all the "sack 'em" crowd actually did we could produce appropriate examples of what they should be instantly dumped for! And I suspect that would be considered "different'!

Pardon me, me cynicism is showing again......

So someone screwed up .. big time... ONCE. How about a bit of counselling etc?

So at what point is an intransigence which affects the public and / or the image of the airline considered severe enough for instant dismissal? Or do you believe there is no such act?

I'm sure if most of us tried the same stunt we would also be called before the management to face the chopping block. As for other kinds of acts, well I guess that's a case by case basis and we can't generalise either way (i.e. not every mistake made against the public is sackable but some certainly are, and I for one think this is one of them). Not that there could be similar things that could be done or even has been done before where immediate dismissal has or would be the consequence.

I'm pretty sure that bringing a company into disrepute is grounds for sacking in almost any company.

 

[oz_mark]

So at what point is an intransigence which affects the public and / or the image of the airline considered severe enough for instant dismissal? Or do you believe there is no such act?

I'm sure if most of us tried the same stunt we would also be called before the management to face the chopping block. As for other kinds of acts, well I guess that's a case by case basis and we can't generalise either way (i.e. not every mistake made against the public is sackable but some certainly are, and I for one think this is one of them). Not that there could be similar things that could be done or even has been done before where immediate dismissal has or would be the consequence.

I'm pretty sure that bringing a company into disrepute is grounds for sacking in almost any company.

In my view, it would depend on whether it was a first offence or not. Further, there are other options rather than sacking (Demotion etc).

 

[Smackbum]

So at what point is an intransigence which affects the public and / or the image of the airline considered severe enough for instant dismissal? Or do you believe there is no such act?

I'm sure if most of us tried the same stunt we would also be called before the management to face the chopping block. As for other kinds of acts, well I guess that's a case by case basis and we can't generalise either way (i.e. not every mistake made against the public is sackable but some certainly are, and I for one think this is one of them). Not that there could be similar things that could be done or even has been done before where immediate dismissal has or would be the consequence.

I'm pretty sure that bringing a company into disrepute is grounds for sacking in almost any company.

I'm pretty sure that we have all done things that could be spun into the "bringing a company into disrepute" bucket, and in my personal opinion this does not reflect on the airline in any way. It was a stupid mistake by a couple of individuals, and if it had flashed up on my screen the only compensation I would ask for is the dry cleaning bill for my pants (on the assumption that I would have pished myself laughing).

As for the ridiculous comments about having no confidence in the entire Virgin staff to handle their duties on the basis of this incident ...... Qantas spin doctors would not even go that far.

 

[Misha]

Hmmm.... well if I were acting in my professional capacity I would say it is a clear case of gross & willful misconduct and has potential ramifications for the PR of the company and instant dismissal was required.

However...

If I wasn't wearing that hat - and was a passenger for example - I would have pissed myself laughing too. I am by no means a saint when it comes to language but the c-word is one word I simply cannot stand - but in that situation - as inappropriate as it is - the complete balls up of it would make me giggle.

On another note, this is a good example where Virgin Australia (or America, etc) can be tarnished by their association with Virgin Atlantic, as people see Virgin Crew Blah Blah Blah ... therefore VS really have to take this seriously as it has widespread consequences.

Still funny though

 

[Blackswan]

Slightly related, flew MIA-JFK on AA back in January. AA uses the cabin monitors to display gate/connecting flight/carousel info.

According to our screens, our flight number was "S**t 4".

Everyone in the F cabin including myself had a laugh - the crew were frantically trying to turn off the monitors; apparently the info is sent from the ground.

 

[tuapekastar]

It's a very silly mistake to make (and a reason to be extremely careful using comms systems where messages could go to other than the intended recipients for stuff like this), but based solely on that I think sacking is OTT.

I can understand people may have been very offended (I'm with the wetting myself laughing crowd) and they have a perfect right to be, and definitely deserve an apology, and maybe some FF miles. If anyone goes beyond that and wants actual monetary compensation, then perhaps the message should be re-sent - just to them, with the word greedy added.

 

[Flying Fox]

I'm having trouble working out why the CSM is also being sacked when two of his team did this stupid act?