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From the 'Horizons' magazine |
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Issue dated May 1993 |
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You wouldn't believe what some employees send through company mail.
"We figured that an employee had arranged for someone in Halifax to send them some frozen fish," says Dan Stewart, Coordinator, Company Mail Services - Dorval. "Unfortunately, by the time the package arrived in Montreal, the fish had thawed out. Needless to say, the package didn't get delivered." Paul Robillard, Manager, Publishing and Food Services - Dorval, says they're trying to discourage employees from receiving or sending personal items through the company mail system. "Company mail means just that," explains Robillard. "It's amazing the number of employees who have personal mail delivered to their company address. We regularly process rnagazines, catalogues and junk mail which aren't business-related. They're easy to spot since publications like Canadian Tire and Playboy don't fall into the aviation category." Robillard says employees also put the airline at risk, especially when sending personal items to the U.S. or overseas. Customs agents often perform random checks on mailbags and, when they find non-company items, the airline is held responsible. The company can be fined for violating customs regulations and, in some instances, airplanes can even be seized. "We work on an honour system with customs agents." he says. "Unfortunately, we lost that privilege in London because British customs kept finding personal items like chocolates and cigarettes every time they did a random check of our mailbags. Now they look at every single mailbag. Robillard and his group are now taking steps to educate employees about the company mail system, which they hope will result in less abuse. Notes will be attached to items identified as personal or non-company in nature advising employees to change their mailing address. If employees fail to comply within a reasonable time period, the material will not be delivered. |
