Intimidation in the Aviation Workplace=Poor Outcomes
Aviation is run by bean counters.
Bean counters abhor aircraft delays or diversions.They cost money and dilute the bottom line profit.
So the pressure is on.No diversions.No delays
Mechanical problems are one thing.Weather is something else.
Take the dust storms in Sydney recently.Diversions and delays everywhere.
Operations, the nerve centre of any airline,feels the pressure most of all in these situations.The pressure is then transferred to operating crews.Both pilots and cabin crew.
Intimidate, cajole and threaten crews to extend tours of duty in order to return aircraft to some semblance of schedule.
Australia is an end of line destination at the southern end of the world.
Most of Australian based crews fly back of the clock to return to base.
Crews inbound from the West Coast of America routinely clock up tours of duty of over sixteen hours.Throw in a weather initiated diversion and these crews quickly approach duty hour limitations.
This can result in passengers aircraft and crews remaining for an extended period of time in the port of diversion.
So operations begin negotiating with crews and calculating duty limitations.
Things become a little blurred and heated.Crews already fatigued need to make informed decisions regarding "go or stay"under pressure from management.The weather is a how long is a piece of string situation.
In Australia there are EBAs,fatigue protocols and EEO legislation that come into play in these situations.They are often ignored by Airline managment .
Make a decision to extend your TOD and then make a catastophic mistake and you are culpable.Not management.Not operations.You.
The fact that you were threatened and intimidated means northing.You made the decision to extend.
After the dust storms subsided allegations of intimidation by Qantas began to emerge.The Flight Attendants Association has become involved and an investigation is underway.There will be consequences.
All workplaces in Australia have EEO protocols in place.Intimidation in the workplace is forbidden.Implied perceived or otherwise.
It has been going on for years.
Hopefully the outcome of this investigation will see the practice cease.
There is already enough stress in the aviation industry