Journal: TWUK | Section: |
Title: | Issue Date: 21/08/00 |
Author: | Page Number: 3 |
Copyright: Other |
Agents attack retailer for cutting commission payments when clients cancel holidays
Lunn Poly staff hit out over wage reductions
Report by STEVEJONES
LUNN Poly staff have attacked management over its policy of docking wages when customers cancel holidays.
Agents are losing their basic commission earned on the sale which they claim is severely denting their pay packet.
The issue emerged after the multiple introduced new ways of calculating wages and started paying cash incentives rather than vouchers.
Lunn Poly said agents only lose part of the commission, adding it is not viable to pay the entire amount.
One employee of the multiple, who asked not to be named, said staff were unaware they were being penalised.
“We are being made to pay when customers cancel which cannot be right,” she said.
“Staff work hard to secure a booking and earn their commission. Just because the client cancels at a later date should not mean we lose out. This job does not pay well at the best of times.”
Another Lunn Poly agent who contacted Travel Weekly said: “We find ourselves worrying about how much money is going to be deducted next month and the month after that. It’s just not acceptable.”
A Lunn Poly spokeswoman said the policy was not new but probably came to light after the deduction was made clearer in wage packets. She added while basic commission is deducted, tactical incentives earned from the sale are retained by the agent.
“This amount is greater than the basic commission,” she said.
She added that staff incentives are now paid in cash, rather than vouchers.
“Previously agents earned points which could be transferred into vouchers,” she said. “Paying incentives in cash probably means it is more noticeable for staff.”
National sales director Gary Rook claimed its staff have seen earnings increase by 20% on last year. “This is a measure of the success of our incentive scheme,” he said.
n See Letters, page 8
On the edge: agents don’t know what they will receive in their pay packet each month