| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 30/10/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 3 |
| Copyright: Other |
Thomas Cook retail staff attack the ‘dictatorial’ style of senior management
Agency staff rebuke top brass
Managers are now calling for an urgent independent survey of all staff, with the results acted on by head office. Currently, staff are too afraid to criticise, managers have argued.
Another claimed the dictatorial approach has led to staff being told they can no longer take Saturdays as a day off from January, for half the year.
“This rule will achieve nothing but aggrieve staff further and is yet another example of the emerging dictatorial management style at Thomas Cook,” said the manager.
He said it was an example of where managers are not trusted to run their own operation.
“Those of us on the frontline know it’s possible to give staff a Saturday off now and then while keeping adequate cover,” he said. Another claimed they were told to resign after their shop failed its audit.
He said: “Senior managers are bullying staff with threats of disciplinary action and harassing under-performing staff to leave.”
Thomas Cook managing director Manny Fontenla-Novoa said he would investigate complaints but added he was disappointed at the tirade.
He said the retail operation is poised to post its most successful year and claimed staff praised the company in a recent random survey.
“While we are not perfect, all the indications suggest we are doing things right,” said Fontenla-Novoa. He also denied claims that staff will have to do more Saturday work.
* See Letters, page 10
Blame culture:some shop managers claim they have been threatened with disciplinary action from senior managers
EXCLUSIVEby STEVEJONES
THOMAS Cook agency staff have accused management of adopting bully-boy tactics and are blaming its dictatorial approach for plunging morale.
Branch managers have complained to Travel Weekly about impossible working conditions, being belittled in front of staff and threatened with disciplinary action.
And they claim the environment is driving dedicated staff to look for other jobs.
Managers are now calling for an urgent independent survey of all staff, with the results acted on by head office. Currently, staff are too afraid to criticise, managers have argued.
Another claimed the dictatorial approach has led to staff being told they can no longer take Saturdays as a day off from January, for half the year.
“This rule will achieve nothing but aggrieve staff further and is yet another example of the emerging dictatorial management style at Thomas Cook,” said the manager.
He said it was an example of where managers are not trusted to run their own operation.
“Those of us on the frontline know it’s possible to give staff a Saturday off now and then while keeping adequate cover,” he said. Another claimed they were told to resign after their shop failed its audit.
He said: “Senior managers are bullying staff with threats of disciplinary action and harassing under-performing staff to leave.”
Thomas Cook managing director Manny Fontenla-Novoa said he would investigate complaints but added he was disappointed at the tirade.
He said the retail operation is poised to post its most successful year and claimed staff praised the company in a recent random survey.
“While we are not perfect, all the indications suggest we are doing things right,” said Fontenla-Novoa. He also denied claims that staff will have to do more Saturday work.
* See Letters, page 10