WestJet – “Media reports greatly overstate the work environment for management at WestJet”

Pros

Flight Benefits, glamorous industry, strong brand image in the media

Cons

Low pay, disrespectful, incompetent management, career development is a low priority. Management is allowed to bully lower employees with impunity. Those who complain about such treatment are terminated.

Advice to Senior Management

Hire managers that have better interpersonal skills. Several VPs lack industry experience and simply micro manage their team because they are so insecure. Some VPs have been promoted beyond their level of competence and so they have a policy of zero tolerance toward direct reports that show any dissent. At the first sign of not being 100% happy with the situation direct reports are asked to resign or else be terminated without cause. This makes for an intolerable work environment in which top performers will quickly leave for mature employers. With 18 Directors and VPs pushed out in the space of a couple years, this is a clear indication that WestJet management is systematically flawed.