Originally Posted by
Liam Gallagher
What has made matters worse has been a conveyor belt of managers, commencing with Director People, putting forward a succession of lame reasons in attempt to justify want is starting to look like a very ugly, ill thought out decision. As each reason is shot down by a very large and motivated group on yammer, a new reason is trundled out in attempt to justify the unjustifiable.
That reminds me of the European tax debacle 6 years ago:
In 2007 CX ORDERED us (UK based pilots) to finalise our tax affairs in Hong Kong in April 2008, eventually resulting in tremendous financial hardship for dozens of UK based pilots, because that DIRECTIVE turned out to be ILLEGAL.
This was a result of the Croft case in the UK and the typical CX knee-jerk reaction and not doing their homework (i.e. picking up the phone with the HKIRD and having a 5 minute conversation that could have prevented this from happening, thanks Claire Delaney!).
The following is the VERY short version of what ensued in the next 5 years:
*Us to Richard Hall and Philip Herbert:"Why have you given us illegal tax directives/advice?"
*RH/PH: "We haven't, the HKIRD changed the law"
*Us to HKIRD:"The company says you changed the law?"
*HKIRD:"No, we haven't. This law dates back to 197X"
*Us to RH/PH:"The HKIRD didn't change the law, it dates back from 197X"
*RH/PH:"Oh nonono, they changed the INTERPRETATION of the law"
*Us to HKIRD:"Now the company is saying you changed the INTERPRETATION of the law"
*HKIRD:"No, we haven't, this is a ruling from 198X, same case, same result, same ruling"
*Us to RH/PH:"The HKIRD hasn't changed the interpretation either".
*RH/PH:"Oh well, tax is your own responsibility".
It always amazed me that a "pilot" like RH was unwilling or unable to accept responsibilities for his actions.
Most of the people I have flown with take responsibility for their actions: good AND bad.
I can "understand" such a lack from psychopaths that have no moral ground, no empathy towards their fellow man and are only interested in their bonuses, but for a "pilot" "leader" to abrogate his responsibility towards his former peers has always amazed me.
Yes, I am still naive and don't mind keeping it that way.