Bad Experiences With Employers
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: St Pierre et Miquelon
Bad Experiences With Employers
It would be interesting to hear of other Rotorheads genuinely bad experiences with employers (except from those who are just wanting to grind an axe because they can't get what they feel they deserve from their current employer). It would be interesting to know which continent has the most bad employers and which the best. I hear that in Canada and Australia many employers have a 'like it or lump it' attitude to any requests they feel are critical of themselves. I also hear that in the Middle East and Africa some local employers have rid themselves of employees without notice or compensation, sometimes owing them thousands of dollars. Have you had such an experience? If so let us know about it so we know who not to work for (or where). Please bear in mind the rules of this site regarding libel and don't mention specific names if you think you may be in breach of these rules. No whingers please 
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Afrika sometimes
There are certainly a couple of Nigerian companies which have been known not to pay people and who have not honored any terms of the contracts once people have arrived in Nigeria. I'd certainly think twice before working in Africa for any comppany which didn't have a partnership with a European or North American partner - though reading some of the other threads on here, even that's not always a guarantee of good treatment. I do believe that with a partnership at least you'd get paid, because you always have recourse to American or European courts, whilst with a Nigerian company you still effectively have nothing. 
I haven't personally had any bad experiences. We can't always get what we want, but I've alwsys been treated fairly, even if sometimes I've had to fight for it. I've had friends who've had some very bad experiences in Africa. After reading some of the posts on the What's New In Africa thread, it would be innteresting to hear if some of the Africans think they get treated fairly by European or American partnerships.
I haven't personally had any bad experiences. We can't always get what we want, but I've alwsys been treated fairly, even if sometimes I've had to fight for it. I've had friends who've had some very bad experiences in Africa. After reading some of the posts on the What's New In Africa thread, it would be innteresting to hear if some of the Africans think they get treated fairly by European or American partnerships.
Joined: May 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
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From: Downeast
Tom,
A few years back...a Jamaican born, naturalized Canadian, married to a US Citizen and living in the USA, was hired by a British firm operating out of Jersey, The Channel Islands under a shell corporation for work in Nigeria for a Nigerian subsidiary.
The fine print of the contract....hidden away in an obscure place...required three calendar years to complete a two year contract. He left with more than adequate notice by one clause of the contract but was crapped upon from on high with the Mandarins citing the clause wherein only time spent on the roster inside Nigerian counted towards completion of the contract.
Just what legal recourse does one have in that situation?
"SFA" I would say.
A few years back...a Jamaican born, naturalized Canadian, married to a US Citizen and living in the USA, was hired by a British firm operating out of Jersey, The Channel Islands under a shell corporation for work in Nigeria for a Nigerian subsidiary.
The fine print of the contract....hidden away in an obscure place...required three calendar years to complete a two year contract. He left with more than adequate notice by one clause of the contract but was crapped upon from on high with the Mandarins citing the clause wherein only time spent on the roster inside Nigerian counted towards completion of the contract.
Just what legal recourse does one have in that situation?
"SFA" I would say.
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Lost and Legless somewhere in LaLaLand
I know of one American pilot who had a fairly heated argument with the owner of the Nigerian helicopter company he was working for. End result? He was deported that evening and escorted on to his happy homeward flight by armed policemen. I'm told he's still owed a large sum of money by these people, but naturally, this being Nigeria, he has no effective legal recourse. The said company not only didn't supply any lunch, but not even the essential aviation supplies of unlimited coffee were forthcoming. Great to work for someone with no background in, or understanding of, aviation. Still, I hear that they now have queues of Phillipinos waiting to join. Hope they think they're getting a good deal, because they're being exploited more than anyone.
Ah yes, the joys of working for a third world employer with third world rules.
Ah yes, the joys of working for a third world employer with third world rules.
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 420
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From: Florida
On a note attached to my pay cheque a few years ago:
"It is and always has been *******'s policy that if a flight generates income, the pilot gets paid. This is in regard to the pick up of ******* from ********. In addition, if you wish to share the cost of the flight, you are welcome to do so"
The last part still cracks me up when I read it. At that time I had about 1500 hours.
I kept the note as a reminder to myself, that should the day come when I write the cheques, to try and be fair.
"It is and always has been *******'s policy that if a flight generates income, the pilot gets paid. This is in regard to the pick up of ******* from ********. In addition, if you wish to share the cost of the flight, you are welcome to do so"
The last part still cracks me up when I read it. At that time I had about 1500 hours.
I kept the note as a reminder to myself, that should the day come when I write the cheques, to try and be fair.
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: UK
Bad Experiences With Employees
It would be interesting to hear of other Rotorheads genuinely bad experiences with employees (except from those who are just wanting to grind an axe because they can't get what they feel they deserve from their current employees). It would be interesting to know which continent has the most bad employees and which the best. I hear that in **** and **** many employees have a 'like it or lump it' attitude to any requests they feel are critical of themselves. I also hear that in **** and **** some local employees have rid themselves of employers without notice or compensation, sometimes costing the employers thousands of dollars. Have you had such an experience? If so let us know about it so we know who not to have work for you (or where). Please bear in mind the rules of this site regarding libel and don't mention specific names if you think you may be in breach of these rules. No whingers please
BW
It would be interesting to hear of other Rotorheads genuinely bad experiences with employees (except from those who are just wanting to grind an axe because they can't get what they feel they deserve from their current employees). It would be interesting to know which continent has the most bad employees and which the best. I hear that in **** and **** many employees have a 'like it or lump it' attitude to any requests they feel are critical of themselves. I also hear that in **** and **** some local employees have rid themselves of employers without notice or compensation, sometimes costing the employers thousands of dollars. Have you had such an experience? If so let us know about it so we know who not to have work for you (or where). Please bear in mind the rules of this site regarding libel and don't mention specific names if you think you may be in breach of these rules. No whingers please
BW
