I'm compelled to put in a few words here. It seems to me that EK will eventually pick up what my present employer SQ is doing: Wide scale DEC recruitment as and when HR deems necessary.
As far as I'm concerned during my FO days, it's ok with me if the DEC that came along was positive in his attitude + up to the task. It's NOT ok if all he had was some narrow body experience, bought himself a cheap rating from some unknown flying school and just because some bean counters had deemed him suitable, he then could try teach a 9-year on-type FO on how to fly a 744 whilst he screwed it up big time during his own SIM ride. Or for the matter of fact, one couldn't even balance the fuel during cruise as he's just too confused with where's to where and what's to what, amongst many tales that I can go on and on.
In all, for all the FOs in EK, fight on while you still have the tide and hang in there. Don't make it easy for the DEC, and I know for the fact many won't dare to join with this sort of environment awaits them. And sadly, guess where they'll end up?? Well they may laugh coming to my side of the fence, and obviously they haven't had a chance for a line check with me.
yet.