Working for Emirates is a unique experience. You are not only starting a new job, but you are also moving to a new country, adapting to a different culture, being away from family and friends and living a completely different daily life.
You constantly have to adjust to changing rosters, long-haul flights, jet lag and irregular working hours. For some people, the reality is very different from what they imagined before joining.
The first year is usually a major adjustment period. New crew members have to learn safety procedures, adapt to a new work culture, take on new responsibilities and learn how to live far away from home.
Some people simply realize that this lifestyle does not suit them.
Here are some of the reasons why some Emirates cabin crew members decide to leave.
Fatigue
Emirates crew can have very busy rosters, with flights back to back and long working hours. Sometimes the rosters can be really tough. Over time, people can become very tired and feel like they cannot keep doing it anymore. The changing and sometimes difficult sleeping patterns can also have a big effect on the body.
Homesickness
Emirates crew are far away from their friends and family and live in a country that is not their home. At first, living in Dubai can feel exciting and new, but that feeling can wear off quickly. Imagine working every day and then coming home without your family or close friends around you. Yes, you may live with roommates, but they are not the same as the people you have back home. Over time, you can start missing your home, your loved ones and the little things you were used to.
Loneliness
Even when crew are surrounded by many people, they can still feel lonely. Emirates crew usually share their accommodation with one or two flatmates, but that does not always stop them from feeling alone. Of course, they make new friends from their training batch and meet many people at work, but sometimes the feeling of loneliness can still be strong. When you start feeling lonely, homesickness can also become stronger. You start thinking more about home, your family and the life you had before. If these feelings continue for a long time, some people may start thinking about leaving the airline.
Strict rules
When you sign an Emirates cabin crew contract, you also agree to follow many strict rules, both at work and in your private life. For example, there are rules about overnight guests, family members staying in the accommodation, curfews and even alcohol in your home. Some rules require approval or a licence and breaking company rules can have serious consequences. For some crew, having so many rules can feel suffocating. They may feel like they are constantly being watched and controlled, with very little freedom in their personal life. Over time, this can make some people want to leave.
Working environment
Some crew members may feel that they have very little support if something goes wrong. There can also be reporting between crew members, which can create a stressful working environment. Some crew feel that managers do not always support them, especially when there are problems with passengers. The service can also be very demanding and some flights have difficult or demanding passengers. When crew feel they have no voice, little support and constant pressure at work, it can become very stressful and make some people question whether they want to stay.
Roommates
Emirates crew share their accommodation with one or two other crew members. They cannot request a change until they have completed their six-month probation period. Even after that, changing accommodation is not always quick or easy. I know a crew member who wanted to move because she was not getting along with her roommate. It took around 1 year for her request to be approved. Having a difficult roommate can have a big effect on your daily life and overall experience.
The fantasy vs. reality
Before joining Emirates, some crew imagine the job will be a dream life. They picture travelling the world, meeting new people and having an exciting and easy job. But once they arrive in Dubai, they realize the reality is very different. The long hours, pressure, stress and strict rules can be more difficult than they expected. They simply stop enjoying the job and realize it was not what they had imagined. After one to three years, some decide to leave.
Other goals
Some crew members resign because they have other goals and plans for their lives. From the beginning, they only plan to stay for around one to three years before going back home and doing something else. Some join Emirates simply because they want to experience the job for a year and see what it is like. They never planned to stay long-term. For some, it is simply an experience or something fun to try for a short time before moving on.
Relationships and marriage
Relationships can also change a person's plans. Some crew members meet someone, get married or decide that they want to build a more stable life with their partner. Constant travel and being away from home can make relationships more difficult for some people. Eventually, they decide that they want a different lifestyle.
Wanting to settle down
After a few years, some people simply want a more stable routine.
They want their own home, regular working hours, weekends off and more time with family and friends. The cabin crew lifestyle can be exciting, but not everyone wants to live that way forever.
Career development
Some crew members discover that they want to focus on another career. They have joined Emirates to gain experience, confidence and international exposure before moving into another industry. For some people, Emirates is part of their career journey rather than their final destination.
Burnout
Even if someone can handle the job at first, years of irregular sleep, long flights, constant travel and demanding service can eventually become exhausting. Some people reach a point where they feel they need a change and want a job with a different routine.
Dubai is not for everyone
Some people love Dubai when they first arrive but later realize that they do not want to build their long-term life there. The climate, culture, lifestyle or simply being far away from their home country can affect how someone feels over time. What feels exciting at first may not feel the same after several years.
Promotion and career expectations
Some crew members expect their career progression to happen faster than it actually does. If they do not see themselves progressing in the way they expected, they may decide to look for opportunities somewhere else. Everyone has different career goals and expectations. For example in EK, going from economy to purser takes around 8-12 years.
They simply tried it and did not like it
Sometimes there is no dramatic reason. A person simply want to experience being cabin crew, try living in Dubai and see what the job is like. After experiencing it for themselves, they realize that it is not for them. And that is also a completely normal reason to leave.
No comments:
Post a Comment