As a lead station attendant at a major airline in Canada, I have a pet peeve that I just can’t stand. It’s the station attendants who constantly complain and whine that lead hands are lazy and don’t do anything. I can’t speak for everyone, but I will say this: everyone has the potential to become a lead, but not everyone chooses to. And I’m here to tell you that it’s not an easy choice.
You see, being a lead comes with a lot of responsibilities. It’s not just about supervising the other attendants and making sure everything runs smoothly, it’s also about being accountable for any mistakes or issues that may arise. It’s about being the go-to person for the other attendants, and it’s about being able to make quick and informed decisions. It’s not a job for everyone, and that’s okay.
But what people don’t see is the sacrifices that come with being a lead. For me, it meant working terrible hours for years on end, often missing out on the chance to bid for the shifts I wanted. It meant working nights and afternoons, missing out on the traditional 9-5 schedule. And it’s not just the work schedule that took a toll, it was also my family life. I missed out on my children’s hockey and baseball games, birthdays, and other important moments.
When I hear station attendants complaining and saying that lead hands are lazy and don’t do anything, it just grinds my gears. It makes me wonder, why did they choose to stay as a station attendant? Was it because they wanted a better shift that was more available on the seniority list? Or was it because they didn’t want the responsibilities and sacrifices that come with being a lead?
Whatever the reason was, it was a personal choice. And it’s not fair for them to sit there and complain about something they willingly chose not to do. It’s like getting on your high horse and looking down on others who have taken on a different role. It’s not a good look and it doesn’t solve anything.
So, to all the station attendants out there, if you’re feeling frustrated with the lead hands, ask yourself why you made the choice to stay a station attendant. And if it was a personal choice, then get off your high horse and stop whining. We all have different roles to play, different sacrifices to make, and we should respect each other’s choices and work together as a team.
The moral of this story is that everyone has the potential to take on a leadership role, but it’s not for everyone. It’s important to respect each other’s choices and understand that everyone has different roles to play in a team. Complaining and whining about others who have taken on different roles does not solve anything and it’s important to remember that it was a personal choice. We should all work together, respect each other’s choices and roles, and support one another to achieve the common goal, despite the sacrifices and challenges we may face.
