EX@40etc

EX@40 refers to the on-going mess at the airport where pilots and crew members of a major airline have walked away from their jobs after learning that the company would soon implement a policy of retiring employees at age 40.

At a time when jobs are hard to come by and at the risk of facing individual lawsuits, why would pilots and crewmembers choose to walk away?

If you were the woman, would you marry someone who tells you that he plans to stay with you only during the best years of your life and is only in it for the money? How would you react if all the person wants from you is a child?

Pilots are like professional athletes. They can stay in the game only as long as their bodies and their minds meet the strict regimen. Once their eyesight deteriorates, their BP or cholesterol start playing games they are almost certain to be put out to pasture.

As far as crewmembers go, being put out to pasture at 40 is equivalent to personal injury. We all tend to think that flying is exciting and great, but no one stops to realize that each time you fly, there is a very real risk that you could be in a crash.

That’s the reason why some people still do the sign of the cross before take off, and why I always send an “I love you and Hannah” text message to my wife Karen every time I have to fly out for an event or speaking engagement.

Consider also the reality that cabin crews are glorified attendants who often have to work or travel at ungodly hours, cross international borders, dates and times in a matter of days. They are often away from family and loved ones, subject to stress, emotional dislocation, temptation or jealousy.

At the end of the day, all this has to matter. Yes I understand that companies and businessmen today have to survive the cut- throat competition as well as deal with years of financial disruption.

However people are not sharks that you catch, cut their fins for soup and then throw back in the sea. After 40, starting all over is the equivalent of being thrown back finless and helpless.

There is a big difference between cutting costs and cutting throats; it is also difficult to expect people to honor their commitments if we do not honor their service and their sacrifice.

Rather than cut each other down, it’s about time to find a different answer, a collective solution and not an actuarial equation. In a generation where they say “life begins at 40” or “50 is today’s 40” decisions based on numbers rather than vision and commitment lacks wisdom. –Cito Beltran (The Philippine Star)