Termination

Ronnie Chang, Nadi

As a supposedly good corporate citizen, sadly, ever-so-sadly, the national carrier, Fiji Airways, chose to use emails, as termination notices for almost 758 employees, the majority being faithful, dedicated and responsible workers, who also have loans, high purchases, rents and higher education fees etc to pay. The company’s choice of the word “termination” of employment, is heartless and, indeed saddening. Belittling, at best. Termination in human resource terms translates to severance of employment. Labour laws are crystal clear. As a retiree of many years now, the pre-requisite to termination or severance of employment requires minimum 60-days notice. Additionally, two weeks pay for each year of service is deemed, payable.

In most responsible and caring organisations, employees are expected to be treated as the greatest assets of the company, and therefore, treated with respect and dignity.

It therefore, appears, Fiji Airways’ own Human Resource Department had very little or no say in these mass terminations. What about the top 10 executives of the airline? What was their input? Did the airline’s Board members have a say? Sadly, there maybe lots of unanswered tough questions.

Did “instructions” come from the very top? We may never know. Clearest transparency, will be nicest, for all concerned.

Hard copies of signed individual letters of “termination” is the only proper way, in such matters of national importance. Redundancy or leave without pay is the proper and acceptable terminology, under the huge uncertainties of COVID-19 economic challenges, world wide.

My views are shared out of total respect to all affected employees, and stand corrected, if needed.