Company Bullying

[vertex]

Does your company put pressure on you to operate outside normal legislation, or, due to the current climate, can you see that companies will expect it as the norm this summer.. .Do you want to protect yourself from such underhand practices.. .I've found a company called comsnetwork.co.uk (yes only one 'm'), that provides low cost telecommunications recording equipment.. .Individuals within our industry have used recorded conversations very effectively against their employers in extreme cases.. .The UK Government has recently issued a campaign concerning driver fatigue. Companies may well be held liable should an employee cause an accident due to fatigue whilst driving home from work. This could be especially relevant on minimun rest between duties.. .Individuals within crewing will not be the target of future legal proceedings. The "Policy Makers" will be those who are held accountable.. .I have purchased a unit which is compatible with just about all home and mobile phones, and started recording my conversations with work. It has successfully stopped the prevalent "Bullying" regime that I have been subjected to in the past.. .Good Luck this summer!!!

[411A]

Hmmm, the question is, is recording over the telephone legal? In some jurisdictions, it definately is not, unless a tone is inserted every 15 seconds or so, or the party at the other end is advised.. .Have to admit that any airline management that requests or demands that aircrew operate illegally is guilty of gross misconduct and the practice, if it occurs, needs to be stamped out, PRONTO. Insurance costs are high enough already <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />. . . . <small>[ 28 March 2002, 14:46: Message edited by: 411A ]</small>

[Roobarb]

If you wish to record a telephone conversation that you may intend to use in evidence, you must inform the other party. That said, I entirely agree. It’s time these dinosaurs were locked up.. .. . <img src="http://www.80scartoons.8k.com/roobarb6wee.gif" alt="" />

[Kalium Chloride]

Soldering a 3.5mm jack to the telephone's receiver connection and then plugging said jack into a dictaphone works wonders.

[Big Tudor]

The Avenger. .. .Whilst I understand the reasoning for your actions I think it is slightly naive to think that the 'Policy Makers' will be taking the rap and not crewing. In my experience the cr@ap always lands on the lowest common denominator, and that is very rarely anyone in management. (I know I run the risk of incurring the wrath of crewing and ops bods the world over by calling them the lowest common denominator. Please do not take offence but, having been there, I really believe that is how a lot of airline managers view ops / crewing staff.). .. .As Roobarb says, you are required to inform the other party if you intend to use the recording at a later date. I would suggest that merely advising someone that the conversation was being recorded would make them more cautious with their statements.

[one four sick]

You might not KNOW that you'll want to use the conversation later. You might only be SUSPECTING foul play. Telling them anything might make them too cautious, to the extent that you'll have no evidence whatsoever to present to anyone.. .I would record, then act or not, as the case might be.

[Max Angle]

All calls in and out of our crewing dept. are recorded and this is stated on the taped intro. to the system options. Trouble is when they have been required because a crew member wants to make a complaint about something they have been known to walk off to great erasing machine in the sky!.

[flyblue]

But if you just refuse to do what "asked" by crewing, isn't it the same result as recording the conversation? . .If you don't go they won't be happy, if they cannot ask you they won't be happy.

[Ranger One]

"to improve customer service, all calls may be recorded". .. .That's something you hear often enough... Flying Lawyer may have professional input here, but to me the above statement can be equally easily read as: . .. .1. a warning that 'they' may be recording the call, or . .. .2. a statement giving *you* permission to record the call!. .. .Record and be damned I say... whistle-blower protection (was that ever enacted in the UK?) should apply, if things go that far.. .. .R1

[Notso Fantastic]

Why have you put this in Rumours and News? Try reading the initial request that comes up! There is a Questions Forum for this sort of thing.

[PAXboy]

I should like to comment, as I have been in telecommunications for over 20 years and have had to deal with this many, many times.. .. .As the law currently stands in the UK, you must inform the other party that the call is being recorded.. .. .For myself? I think that making such a statement could be a career limiting one! I should record the conversation, knowing that the chances of needing to use it are small.. .. .If you DO have to use it - which is the greater, you illegally recording a conversation or the fact of you being asked to illegally operate outside company and UK law?. .. .They will not like you but, I suspect, the chances of them bringing an action against you are low! But, once again, it may well have a self-limiting effect on your career.. .. .BUT if you were to build up enough of these requests and complied with some and rejected some and had your career limited some and asked your colleagues about the whole thing some .... you would have a book and a TV programme to help pay for your early retirement. And I am not joking.

[maxalt]

How about this option....I've used it.

If they ask you to do something illegal, point out the illegality of it. Tell them off course you'll help, but you need them to put the request in writing. Ask for a fax.

Always works a treat.

[411A]

Right on, maxalt.

I used this during the Gulf war when the company asked if I would fly beyond the permitted duty hours...way beyond. I asked for a telex from the relevent DCA and received same within thirty minutes...at midnight local time.
Added 18 days to the annual leave ...good deal all 'round. No extra pay...annual leave MUCH better IMHO.