Shift swap for ATCO
Dear all,
We ATCOs in Hong Kong are experiencing extreme stress from management in recent days, following an Admin Memo controlling shift swaps.
The main changes are to restrict the number of swaps to 5 per calender month (both the applicant and the replacing officer are counted swap once for one change); and to restrict the number of overnight shifts to 8 shifts per calender month.
The two rules seem acceptable, but counting the replacing officer's quota discourages the willingness of the one being requested for the swap. What's worse in the other paragraphs written on the memo, namely:
1. shift swap is not an entitlement of an ATCO, but a concession from the management;
2. shift swap to create a short vacation or lengthening a vacation leave outside HK is unacceptable;
3. shift swap must be with a valid reason, and shall not be used to entertain personal shift preferences.
The staff morale is so far the lowest and approaching a breaking point. We feel no respect from management at all. They simply worsen our working condition without consulting operational staff's opinion/consent.
Management is not willing to communicate with fellow staff at all.
May I invite comments or ideas, from our counterparts all over the world, to give us an objective view on this controversial issue?