Ryanair crew told to sell more perfume and scratchcards or face action

Ryanair cabin crew have been told they could face “disciplinary proceedings” and have their working hours forcibly changed unless they sell more perfume and scratchcards. The Irish airline has previously denied pressuring staff to hit specific sales targets, after it emerged they were encouraged to sell products in return for bonuses. But letters sent to crew members by recruitment firms that supply staff to Ryanair – seen by the Guardian – warn of dire consequences for those whose average sales per flight fall “below budget”. The letters highlight 10 products, including drinks, confectionery, cosmetics and scratchcards, listing the percentage of flights in which individual cabin crew members had not sold enough. Cabin crew were also criticised for too often failing to sell more than €E50 of merchandise, indicating a fixed sales target. The letters, one from recruitment agency WorkForce International Contractors and another from an agency that cannot be named because it could not be reached for comment, feature almost identical wording. “This performance is not acceptable and it is clear that you are simply not doing your job on board,” the letters state, warning crew members they had “drastically underperformed”. Crew members were also told that their sales were being “closely monitored” and that if they did not sell more goods “further action will be taken and you may be subject to disciplinary proceedings”.<br/>