Agency staff rebuke top brass

Report by Steve Jones

THOMAS COOK agency staff have accused management of adopting bully-boy tactics and blamed its dictatorial approach for plunging morale.

Branch managers have complained to Travel Weekly about impossible working conditions, being belittled in front of staff and being threatened with disciplinary action.

And they claim the environment is driving dedicated and long-serving 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.

Thomas Cook managing director Manny Fontenla-Novoa said he would investigate complaints but added he was disappointed at the tirade.