Petrol pump attendants

In an amazing glimpse into employee relations in the city of Dubai, Emarat one of the biggest gas station chains openly admits to strip searching employees to make sure they are not keeping any tips.

With a truly spectacular display of a total lack of understanding of even basic PR, the spokesman said,

" 'Body search is part of the procedure and we will continue to do it. However, a supervisor should ask the staff to take off all his clothes only if he is sure that the staff is guilty' said Abdulla Al Noman, the retail sales operations manager at Emarat"

So that makes them judge, jury and stripper all in one, wonder what the qualifications are for that cushy little number?

I have no idea what the attendants wages are but I doubt it will be more than a thousand dhs a month so I regularly tip for good service, cheerful demeanor, windscreen cleaning and even for not spilling gas all over the weasel mobile (unfortunately a regular occurrence).

Why not? It spreads a little wealth and helps ensure better service next time.

"It's to protect the customer" say Emarat, well I fail to see how that washes myself, all the pumps are marked and we can all see what the figures are.

Interestingly no-one is saying what happens to the tips that are found or given, are they hidden by the staff or confiscated by the company? Anyone know?

Either way in a small act of defiance I will be boycotting the Emarat chain and watching to see what new job the spokesman ends up with.