Aer Lingus 2008 Annual Report Download - page 21

AER LINGUS GROUP PLC - ANNUAL REPORT 2008
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Quality Assurance: The Quality Management System
includes both technical and operational activities. It
performs the oversight and audit function of Aer Lingus
and contracted organisations in order to comply with the
requirements of EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency)
and JAR (Joint Aviation Regulations).
Security: Aer Lingus ensures that staff are made aware
of the need for a high level of security at all times. The
Group’s Corporate Security Office acts in an advisory and
consultative capacity in relation to all aspects of security
and provides management with general guidelines in
relation to security and loss prevention. The aim of
aviation security is to protect passengers, crew, staff,
and members of the public and civil aviation in general
from acts of unlawful interference. Aer Lingus ensures
that both directly employed staff and handling agents are
made aware of the need for a high level of security at all
times. Aer Lingus achieves this aim by compliance with
all aviation security statutory and regulatory requirements
in jurisdictions where operations are undertaken. We fully
co-operate with law enforcement agencies and adopt a
proactive approach to the development of best practice
in all areas of aviation security. The Group’s Corporate
Security Office acts in an advisory and consultative
capacity in relation to all aspects of security and provides
management with general guidelines in relation to security
and loss prevention.
Aer Lingus continues to ensure its Disruptive Passenger
Policy is followed. This policy has been made available
to all staff and handling agents to minimise disruption to
passengers and prevent and detect behaviour that causes
discomfort, inconvenience, or injury to other passengers
or to the crew.
Staff
Aer Lingus recognises the importance of the contribution
made by staff in delivering continuous improvement in
organisational performance and results and values the
knowledge, skills and experience of employees. Aer
Lingus supports training and development of staff to
ensure the safe and efficient operation of the business.
Recruitment: Aer Lingus policy on recruitment and
selection is to provide the organisation with the people
having the skills, competencies and aptitude to meet
our strategic objectives; to provide equal access to all
qualified candidates and avoid all forms of discrimination;
and to select the candidate most suitable for the job
in question on the basis of pre-set criteria. The Group
fills vacancies through the provision of opportunities
for existing staff to progress within the organisation,
combined with the recruitment of specific expertise and
skills externally. Aer Lingus operates a highly effective,
low cost recruitment model, where over 95% of external
recruitment needs are sourced through the Group’s
website, www.aerlingus.com.
Training and development: Aer Lingus is committed
to providing high-quality training to support the safe
and efficient operation of the business with the primary
training focus on mandatory requirements, in particular
air safety, aviation security, health and safety and
operational training. In addition, there is a particular
focus on customer service training to ensure that a
consistent, satisfactory customer experience is delivered.
Aer Lingus operates a dedicated learning centre and has
a large range of training programmes available through
e-learning. The majority of cabin crew and pilot training
is designed and delivered in-house through dedicated
facilities on-site so as to ensure a consistent standard
and quality of training.
Equality and diversity: Aer Lingus is fully committed
to being an equal opportunities employer regardless
of nationality or ethnic origin, race, gender, sexual
orientation, marital status, disability, age and religious or
political belief. The Group proactively pursues compliance
with all relevant equality legislation. During 2008 a total
of 37 different nationalities worked across the Group.
Flexible working: Aer Lingus recognises that changes
in personal circumstances affect employees’ lives
and work. In order to recognise the diverse needs of
employees, and to ensure fairness and consistency
across the Group, Aer Lingus has a flexible working
policy. The objective of this policy is to help staff achieve
a healthier balance between their working lives and
personal responsibility without compromising business
needs and to retain valued, experienced and trained
employees. The policy includes flexible working and
leave arrangements such as flexitime, part-time work,
job sharing, paternity leave, bereavement leave and
compassionate leave.
Communication and consultation with employees:
As at 31 December 2008 approximately 90% of Aer
Lingus employees were members of trade unions.
Aer Lingus fully recognises the value and rights of
employees under current legislation with regard to
worker participation. The Group has engaged extensively
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