VA Bain culture and its CEO under fire

[Melburnian1]

'The Australian' this morning has the second article in recent days questioning why so many senior staff have apparently departed VA 2.0 .

The first article mentioned the chief pilot, who has made a bullying claim set to be heard in the Federal Court. Today's talks about the former chief medical officer, who allegedly was put under huge pressure by the VA CEO re a COVID-19 positive flight attendant who worked on five flights.

Neither article paints the VA CEO in a good light.

So both major airlines' CEOs are copping a lot of flak.

I won't attach the articles as 'AFF' doesn't like us doing that.

I recall how despite being the head of the Tennis Australia Board IIRC, the VA CEO was nowhere to be seen during the fracas about the #1 ranked tennis player and his vaccination status.

 

[bam71]

….. where there is smoke, there is fire.

 

[antycbr]

Whilst there may be issues, the previous management culture led to the bankruptcy of the airline - and there was still a culture of churn and complaint at the executive level back then too.

Bain knew what they were taking on with Jane - it's not like her reputation didnt precede her. She's clearly been given authority to do what is needed in the eyes of Bain.

Running an airline isnt a wellness session.

 

[jakeseven7]

Bain knew what they were taking on with Jane - it's not like her reputation didnt precede her.

CEO's can obviously rub people up the wrong way but Jayne seems to have track record of people management issues that trail behind her not just at Virgin but also her time at A2 - as you say she definitely has a reputation. Interestingly you don't hear much of her time at Jetstar - I wonder if the QF machine kept a lid on her behaviour there?

Anyway the culture issues keeps on coming up in these stories both anecdotally around the Brisbane business community, this is about the third or fourth article now.

Will be really interesting to see how the bullying case in the Federal Court goes against her and Virgin - and if it spills any more details to what exactly is going on at Virgin HQ.

For the AFF lawyers - will the Federal Court case against Virgin and the Virgin CEO be 'public' - as in will we get to see what is said??

 

[jb747]

Running an airline isnt a wellness session.

Well, it is over at QF. Whilst the airports were melting down, they were running all sorts of ‘wellness’ deals over in the management buildings. The disconnect between the people who actually do the work, and those in the towers, is huge and increasing. I’m sure Virgin is no different.

 

[Mattg]

I won't attach the articles as 'AFF' doesn't like us doing that.

You can (and are encouraged to) post a link to an article you're posting about. What isn't allowed is copying and pasting an entire article, or very large chunks of it (particularly if it is behind a paywall) due to copyright laws.

 

[jakeseven7]

You can (and are encouraged to) post a link to an article you're posting about. What isn't allowed is copying and pasting an entire article, or very large chunks of it (particularly if it is behind a paywall) due to copyright laws.

Yes.... I've never gotten into 'trouble' for posting links here!

Here is one:

Virgin Australia and its boss Jayne Hrdlicka hit with Federal Court bullying claim​

Virgin Australia and its high-flying chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka have been accused of bullying a senior pilot at the airline group in a Fair Work court case.
Captain Michael Fitzgerald launched Federal Court action on Tuesday against the airline.

A Virgin Australia spokeswoman confirmed it was being sued by the company’s former general manager of flight operations. The company also confirmed that allegations had been made directly against Hrdlicka. Fitzgerald’s lawyer did not respond to inquiries.

Virgin Australia and its boss Jayne Hrdlicka hit with bullying claim

Virgin Australia and its high-flying chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka have been accused of bullying a senior pilot at the airline group in a Fair Work court case.

amp.smh.com.au

Ex-Virgin chief pilot accuses CEO Jayne Hrdlicka of bullying

Michael Fitzgerald, who was also general manager of flight operations, argues the business violated his workplace rights by terminating his contract while he was on extended sick leave.

australianaviation.com.au

 

[HS-TQE]

I recall how despite being the head of the Tennis Australia Board IIRC, the VA CEO was nowhere to be seen during the fracas about the #1 ranked tennis player and his vaccination status.

If I recall the TA CEO / AO Organiser wasn't as active on Social Media and didn't say anything during the presentations due to the drama with the #1 Tennis Player prior to the start of AO.

JH also only said brief words during the post-finals presentation(s)

 

[Carrots]

Reading the article.... there's plenty that needs to come out in the story to get a full picture it would seem.

 

[HS-TQE]

A change of CEO and the 'cleanout' is common across basically ALL companies (For example, the Godfrey to Borghetti transition had almost the entire VB management replaced as VA 1.0 was being set up, and some of the VB management have since popped up at Bonza).

However as it's known JH does have history across JQ, A2 and now applying to VA. As was said, there's still plenty to come out of this story to get a more full/clearer picture on the situation.

 

[antycbr]

Well, it is over at QF. Whilst the airports were melting down, they were running all sorts of ‘wellness’ deals over in the management buildings. The disconnect between the people who actually do the work, and those in the towers, is huge and increasing. I’m sure Virgin is no different.

My quote was, shall we say, targeted.

 

[Melburnian1]

You can (and are encouraged to) post a link to an article you're posting about. What isn't allowed is copying and pasting an entire article, or very large chunks of it (particularly if it is behind a paywall) due to copyright laws.

The owner of the site makes the rules, and fair enough. But while he (or you) will say that 'it might be in the future' or 'two wrongs don't make a right';, other specialist blogs/websites (non-aviation subjects) allow pasting of whole articles. Their proprietors do not ever seem to face the courts in a civil case alleging copyright breach.

.

 

[Melburnian1]

Well, it is over at QF. Whilst the airports were melting down, they were running all sorts of ‘wellness’ deals over in the management buildings. The disconnect between the people who actually do the work, and those in the towers, is huge and increasing. I’m sure Virgin is no different.

Sadly this isn't confined to airlines. Friends who work for fairly sizeable (500 employees plus) unlisted i.e. private companies suggest this disconnect, or as it might trendily be called 'wokeness culture', is infecting large swathes of Oz businesses.

That different treatment may cause resentment to slowly simmer.

While no doubt those 'driving' aircraft must almost all be calm and measured individuals not prone to exaggeration, and excellent in a crisis (the real reason they're there), they are human and could well be stressed because they perceive (irrespective of pay scales) it's only management that's valued.

 

[admin]

The owner of the site makes the rules, and fair enough. But while he (or you) will say that 'it might be in the future' or 'two wrongs don't make a right';, other specialist blogs/websites (non-aviation subjects) allow pasting of whole articles. Their proprietors do not ever seem to face the courts in a civil case alleging copyright breach.

.

What other websites may permit is really up to them. But on AFF we

request that any member posting News Items link to the original source of the information, therefore giving proper credit to the original publisher.

See attached example of a well constructed posted News Item. There are 3 sections:

1. Link to Source Article (Mandatory)
2. A Recap or Quote from the Article (Mandatory)
3. Your Comments ot Insights (Optional, but encouraged)

Point 3 is a way you can "add value" by sharing your insights.

This is from my post, dated 3 June 2009. It still applies.

 

[Bagpuss]

Sadly this isn't confined to airlines. Friends who work for fairly sizeable (500 employees plus) unlisted i.e. private companies suggest this disconnect, or as it might trendily be called 'wokeness culture', is infecting large swathes of Oz businesses.

That different treatment may cause resentment to slowly simmer.

While no doubt those 'driving' aircraft must almost all be calm and measured individuals not prone to exaggeration, and excellent in a crisis (the real reason they're there), they are human and could well be stressed because they perceive (irrespective of pay scales) it's only management that's valued.

Very true.

Going through voluntary administration is tough too.

I'm unsure why this really makes headlines and feels more targeted.

Jane had a target on her back the minute she was involved in Virgin.

I know someone who personally knows her and said " Interesting character, delivers on goals".

 

[jakeseven7]

I know someone who personally knows her and said " Interesting character, delivers on goals".

A2 would agree with the first part based on all the media stories, but not the second part - that's for sure.

JQ - who knows what they would say if they could - they've buried her time pretty deep and closed the door, you don't see much reporting on her behaviour there - but as previously posted perhaps the QF machine protected her - we will never know I suppose.

 

[jakeseven7]

Reading the article.... there's plenty that needs to come out in the story to get a full picture it would seem.

But will it come out? Are Federal court proceeding all public? (Honestly don't know the answer?)

And here is the original article referred to, apologies I posted the Fairfax version, much the same though

------

Virgin culture in question as more staff depart​

More evidence has emerged of a problematic workplace culture at Virgin Australia following the airline’s sale to Bain Capital.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=HSWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldsun.com.au%2Fbusiness%2Fvirgin-culture-in-question-as-more-staff-depart%2Fnews-story%2Fe63cdd2e0272c40a2e56d92b445191de&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=dynamic-cold-control-score&V21spcbehaviour=append

Virgin boss accused of bullying, harassment​

Bombshell allegations of workplace bullying and harassment have been levelled against Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka in court documents by the airline’s former chief pilot.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fbusiness%2Faviation%2Fbullying-and-harassment-allegations-levelled-against-virgin-australia-boss-jane-hrdlicka%2Fnews-story%2F6a3dddc63ba7697195184bc2c856e6fd&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=dynamic-cold-control-score&V21spcbehaviour=append

 

[Harrison_133]

I'm unsure why this really makes headlines and feels more targeted.

Indeed. From the Australian Aviation & The Australian articles linked above, it seems Jayne didn’t have an awful lot to do with him, and his termination was handled through the Chief Operating Officer.

Whilst there may be issues, the previous management culture led to the bankruptcy of the airline - and there was still a culture of churn and complaint at the executive level back then too.

From The Australian: “Captain Fitzgerald met Ms Hrdlicka on a one-on-one basis only twice as part of a professional development initiative to support the improvement of his performance.”

It does seem like the previous management culture which got VA into the mess it was in would be at play here. Didn’t flight operations have lots of issues during the Borghetti/Scurrah years? I can’t imagine the VA 1.0 way of doing things would hold up too long with the Bain mothership.

 

[eastwest101]

I think many staff saw what Bain did to Paul Scurrah (saying one thing before getting control of the business and doing smoething else after) and took note of that, not Jayne Hrdlicka's decision, she was put into the role.

Interesting to understand what part of the culture at VA1.0 Bain considered undesirable vs what was good about the culture. Obviously the airline lost money to get to where it ended up, but the front line service was pretty good and seemed more efficient than its competitor. I still think it was the commercial part of the airline, especially the aircraft leasing along with Covid 19 restrictions that undid them, and not the general staff culture or any problems with productivity.

 

[HS-TQE]

VA 1.0 was strung with both leases and ongoing 'owned aircraft' mortgages (mortgages being a legacy stretching back to the SQ/EY/NZ eras and later HNA/Nanshan), thus the entire 737 fleet was either leased from a lessor or mortgaged to a bank.