Precisely why this political stuff has no place in the workplace. Just imagine a situation where someone alleges harassment or bullying because he's NOT wearing this ring. Maybe someone gets stood down over an incident, even?

You want to support this stuff in your private time, fine. But not in the workplace. Workplace is for WORK. Clifford and co have definitely overstepped calling for staff members to show support by wearing it.

Qantas chairman Leigh Clifford defends same-sex marriage campaign

If you don't wear the ring? What message is implied in the absence of the ring? This is precisely the point of my post #394 on the [now closed] Gay Colors thread.
Both wearing or NOT wearing the ring sends a message, you are forced into a binary decision, you must make a stand one way or another AND SIGNAL YOUR CHOICE. You are either for it or against it in a highly public manner. Those that are fiercely one way or the other will not be swayed by this tactic. However, the great middle will be forced to make a choice, and then demonstrate that choice to everyone else in a highly public and symbolic manner.

The obvious answer is that anyone that believes their future job security or promotion is linked to their political views will silently opt in regardless of their beliefs about same sex marriage OUT OF FEAR.

Employees are in no doubt what so ever about their master's position on this matter, and thus those who are in the middle will be forced to make a decision based on what they believe is politically best for them in the organisation. This is workplace social engineering through politicisation and virtue signalling gone mad. I wonder if it crosses over the line of discrimination? The campaign is very cleverly orchestrated outside any one enterprise to enable plausible deniability. However, any rational thinking individual will realise what they need to signal to keep their master happy, and hence their career.

This is completely unacceptable in a workplace. I was reminded of an essay by a famed psychologist Philip Zimbardo (Stanford Prison Experiment), On Resisting Social Influence, abstract:

Nice summation of the issue FYSTI.

As a QF shareholder, I prefer the CEO and the board to run the airine not take part in social engineering.

The board have a responsibility to the staff and shareholders.

The share price has not really improved since the float, no dividends for a few years and really the current price is nothing to write home about.

The airline industry is a fickle business, perhaps best planning for the next SARS outbreak, pig flu, recession etc might be what the CEO and board need to do.

^^^^^^^ I could never have made the point so simply & eloquently, I defer to the comic genius of The Kramer. :D

As a shareholder I couldn't agree more. I plan to write to Messrs Clifford and Joyce to express my dismay and suggest that they "stick to the knitting". I would hate to be working in this environment. What next?:\:mad:

A wise sage remarked, when management don't know what to do they just do something!

Who would have thought Leigh had a soft spot for SSM :D

As for the ring, do the pilots have to kiss it? :uhoh:

Maybe the ring is our new wings...

So I guess wearing a One Nation t-shirt will be ok. Just a different form of politics.

I don't think I'll give a sector to anyone who exposes their ring.

Unless there is a new uniform standards document around then the ring is against company policy.
I wonder what would happen if one was to stand down a wearer for breaching uniform policy? ;)

I had heard that some flight operations management looked quite dashing wearing their new rings at the street.
Seems some of the true believers are willing to go all the way.
And to think not long ago wearing a red tie to keep Qantas aircraft flown by Australian pilots was such a gross offensive horror.
Maybe another 18 month pay freeze until we all belong?
Apparently it's not a fully formed designer ring, carved from the finest Indonesian polyester.
#equalityis

An high office holder individual using corporation's (other people's money) to advance a personal agenda is not usually welcomed by either shareholders or regulator.

Joyce has a litany of failures, from Red Q, to JQ (HK, Asia or Vietnam?), static real group revenue, an alliance with EK that delivers not a dollar of revenue, from 'terminal' to transformed, needing $3billion, then not... this is simply a distraction.

Whilst the sun shines on his empire, blessing him with cheap fuel, he is happy to distract the masses and dance through the meadows. Bread and circuses for all! :=

Astute observers of the corporation, would suggest that attention be focused on what the capital structure is when the sun stops shining, what fleet options are delivered to reduce fuel expense (CASK) to ensure that when the next downturn bites, those of any persuasion in the employ of Qantas are still gainfully employed.

As Buffett remarked, the rising tide lifts all boats and cheap fuel a blessing, but when the tide goes out, Joyce will be swimming naked. It will not be pleasant.

And thank you got wheel made me laugh for a considerable period!

I think you may be wrong.

Qantas is a brand, its the reason people choose to fly it and work for it despite its issues. Like it or not, marketing puts bums on seats.

Agree,

Qantas has turned around completely now and is making billion dollar profits year after year now.
Qantas must be rolling in cash to bankroll a 5 million dollar advertising campaign on marriage equality.
It's a big issue for nearly all the senior management and many staff in Qantas so hence the interest and the investment. Even the Qantas gaynetto campaign won social media award of the year. If it brings in the affluent gay dollar then all the better for the staff and shareholders. Even our chairman is supportive in the media.
I don't see the relevance in bigoted views of people Christian or otherwise. The majority of people don't have a problem with it.
The world has moved on from outdated views and I'm sure that religion would teach tolerance and respect.
Look at the positives. If Qantas can afford 5 million spend on this and manufacture thousands of rings, then I'm sure we can demand improvements in pay and conditions next EBA given so much was traded away recently.
Just eat humble pie, or a gaynetto and get behind the initiative.

This world bewilders me. Even in the eighties/nineties, if you told Flight Crew/ Engineers to wear a ring to promote Gay Marriage, most would end up in the round file, accompanied by mutterings of where to shove it. But then again I cannot imagine the likes of Capt. Bert Richie, Keith Hamilton and John Menidue ever allowing the letter to go out in the first place. I appreciate the next generation of both are more compliant, more metro/urban, more aware, then us baby boomers or war babies, and perhaps thats a good thing, but coming from a world that only ever existed of blokes or Sheilas and that was it, I find it incredible that a CEO can use an Icon of this country, to push his cause. Personally I don't care what they do, if they want marriage, let em have it, but like everything else it comes at a cost, one way or another, and like everyone else some will find the grass is no greener, but becomes expensive instead. Welcome to our world. But to be given a ring to wear, will only divide the troops, and that is not good at 35,000 ft, or in the hangers.

Ahahahaha as shareholders of "airlines" you probably deserve everything that is coming at you, which, in real terms, is probably close to nothing. Sell your shares, reinvest them into airports which have 100-year monopoly rights and stop complaining when they charge you $50 for an hour of parking.

Yes, I'm sure some have been driven to book a Qantas seat as a result of this campaign; some have chosen not to for the same reason.

…."Sorry. We spent the cash put aside for your 'bonus' on our (yours and mine!) #Equalityis campaign." :rolleyes:

Actually, there's an idea. The CEO and senior executives could show their support for the campaign by donating $5million of their bonus to save the Company the expense. That would generate masses of engagement with the apparent majority of staff that support the project, sell more seats and create an even greater bonus! I should be CEO!!