Just to entertain the maths idea
with 4500 crew every 1% is an extra £810K, inc NI the company has to add to its annual budget
So hypothetically 10% would be £8.1M, that's a lot of money per annum. But when you stop and look at other expenditure over the years is it that much ? The company happily took a £20M hit just in one year last year with Nigeria !! Look at the expenditure in paying overtime rates to flight crew over 750 hours (>£20ph.)and others not doing 600 hours, there are lots of areas where funds can be saved and re-allocated.
Yes 10% is extreme but in the grand scheme of things, club house, nigeria, base etc etc it is marginal to ensure a happy efficient workforce. Furthermore the 10% example I would not recommend it all as PAYE (this would further reduce cost as no employers NI) , as suggested before but majoity in trip allowances to try and stop/reduce sickness, make it too expensive to take time off work., would that not please crew and management ?
Toodle pip happy new year.