Unless you've been living under a rock, you probably already know that the company that I work for went into chapter 11 bankruptcy "protection" several years ago.
I thought I'd compile a list of things I learned and probably might benefit you if you're employed by AMR (Eagle or AA).
I thought I'd compile a list of things I learned and probably might benefit you if you're employed by AMR (Eagle or AA).
- Expect to hear a crazy-assed rumor, daily. 99% of the rumors that I heard when Southernjets went bankrupt did not come to fruition.
- Expect craploads of upper-level management bonuses. They're going to happen whether you see it or it's done backhandedly, but as much as you shake your fist, they largely don't care what you think. It sucks because you're doing the work, someone else is reaping the rewards.
- Expect to see a "new savior" come to AMR when things seem the darkest. In all honesty, he's probably been there all along, somewhere on the board and no matter how elegant the speech, it's largely business as usual.
- Expect to have every Tom, Dick and Harry opine on why your company went bankrupt. Shopping malls, airport shuttle buses, internet websites, even your barber. Forgive them because they do not know any better and most of the crap they're spouting is nothing more than what they heard on the local 7 o'clock news or read on their favorite "newsy" website.
- The operation is going to break down from time to time because some of your vendors, including hotels, got screwed by other bankrupt airlines and they don't want to be left holding the bag. Catering may or may not show up, your hotel may demand a credit card imprint when checking in for a layover. I've seen some retarded things, some are a pain in the butt, some are maddening to the point where if you has a baseball bat and a video camera, you'd have a top-rated video on YouTube.
- Don't take any crap from your counterparts at other carriers. If they haven't previously been bankrupt, one day they may and the sooner they realize this, the better. Remember those that support you and the ones that want to opine and preach as if their poop doesn't and will never stink, well, keep notes on that too!
- Don't rely on any single source of information. Your company will tell you what they want you to hear to keep staffing stable. Your union will tell you what they want you to hear for the same reasons as well. Compare, contrast, cross-check, ask questions, question the answers, yadda yadda yadda.
- This ain't your fault and you can't solve it so resist the urge to jump at every contractual opportunity to "help" because every lost dollar and benefit is tough as hell to recoup and the lower they can wrench down your contract, the more accolades they will get from Wall Street. Even if you're paying to go to work and haven't had a day off in 12 years.
- Keep your head up. Remember, this isn't your fault and has nothing to do with you personally. Corporate America follows the religion of employees as a "cost of goods sold" and not as an asset or stakeholder in their future success. Perhaps one day we will crawl out of that mentality. But if we don't, well, we'll all be learning Cantonese or Mandarin. (yeah, that's political!)
- Commit this to memory because it will help: "Those that say they know, do not. Those that DO know, ain't talking."
- Do NOT expect that cuts and sacrifices, today, will be remembered when you emerge from bankruptcy. Employee goodwill isn't taught at Wharton and besides, the ones that may win concessions from your group will be long gone with their bonuses and the new guys won't give a poop about what you give up.
- This is probably the most important thing and I can't stress this enough. Keep talking. Everyone has at least one or two people they can call to "shoot the crap" when you get down on things. You're going to need to "talk this out" from time to time and if you need someone to rap to, send me a PM with your number and I'll give you a ring. You're not the first employee of a company going through the bankruptcy process and you're sure in hell not the last, unfortunately.
