Posted on August 12, 2010 by Dennis Snow
Who hasn't, at least once, dreamed of quitting a job in a dramatic, memorable way? Something about a flashy exit seems so satisfying. And along comes the viral story of the now-famous JetBlue flight attendant setting a new bar for saying goodbye to his job.
I've seen many stories and blog posts from flight attendants and other workers hailing the guy as a hero. But I have to admit that when I read the story, I had a knot in my stomach. I knew that some reading the story were feeling validated, that "customers are idiots, and it's about time someone did something about it." Dangerous thinking.
Consultant and blogger Alan Weiss eloquently describes the problem with holding up this flight attendant as a role model. Check out his post, Jet Blues.
I agree with Alan on this subject. This type of behavior should not be condoned. I believe that the passenger involved in the incident should be prosecuted for his actions. But I also believe that the employee's response is just as much a crime.