baggage handler

fueler

cargo agent

passenger service agent

operator

Menzies Aviation

Incredibly mismanaged and unhealthy working environment. They have an understandably high turnover rate, they've had a posting every day since I started and it makes sense why. Equipment has issues on a daily basis and upper management doesn't seem to care. Working conditions are poor and frankly dangerous at times. Trucks have no A/C in the summer (+35°C) and heaters can be hit and miss in the wintertime (-40°C) Meanwhile managers/supervisor trucks are brand new model year off the lot. Mechanics are overworked trying to keep up with issues that arise with equipment because the solution is to keep putting 'band-aid's on bullet holes'. Upper management is unapproachable and distant and makes you feel inconveniencing when you ask them simple questions, or make simple mistakes, and overall morale of the team is very low. Supervisors are good and willing to help but are also not fully supported by upper management and stressed out too. I've seen people get bullied here as well as publicly talked about behind their backs for personal matters. Time off is next to impossible to get unless you've been there for 20 years. Schedule is seniority based and you won't get to even attempt to change it for 6 months. You will be hit with Mandatory OT quite often for Junior workers and need to work past your end time with little notice, up to 8 OT hours a week, and forget being sick or personal matters, you will be scrutinized for that like you never thought possible. It's sad because the job itself is unique (fuelling commercial airplanes) and interesting, it has lots of potential to be a good job, but the workplace is incredibly toxic and mismanaged.  Never seen anything like this place in my life. Would not recommend. 

Used to be a really great place to work. Had its issues but the operation ran smooth and people were generally happy.

The pay is decent ($25 per hour) but the shift premiums are laughable. The benefits are a disgrace and the union is even worse.

No pension to speak of, though they do RRSP matching. 

Upper Managers currently spend more time finding reasons to penalize staff than to help them. It's a very us vs them environment and there are clear favorites when it comes to promotions. 

The shift coordinators, training supervisors, ramp supervisors and fuellers are all treated horribly and it just isn't a fun place to work at present. 

They canclled all of the overtime, started hiring the absolute worst employees possible thanks to lowering the standards to fill positions to offset OT being worked by more experienced and reliable senior fuellers, and there are cutoffs and other incidents galore. We went from one of the best Menzies fuelling operations globally to far below average in a year.

The 6 on 2 off schedule for 5 weeks, followed by 6 on 3 off, then 5 on 3 off for week 7 is another killer of one's body and mind.

As for the job, you spend a lot of.time standing in the elements. Average about 15-20 minutes for small to medium aircraft and 1 - 2+ hours for bigger ones, so on a cold day or a very hot one it can really wear you down. The wind is relentless and often blows the heat from the vents under the aircraft away so you have no way to warm up. That same heat makes fueling in the summer even worse if the wind blows it your way.

As stated in the title, this company is a poor choice if you are looking to move forward in life, Menzies Aviation out of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada is THE single worst company I have ever worked for. The managment is clueless, unfortunately deceiving, and will say anything to get you to break your back. They make you do things that risk the lives of others on a daily basis and when you refuse they put you in the dog house for it, absolutely disgusting. As a lead they will encourage you to report fake baggage numbers, as a lavatory agent they will refuse to enforce basic health and safety requirements, such as keeping vehicles clean, they openly allow employees to wear gloves that have come into contact with human waste, and then let them use those same gloves in every single vehicle they are in, almost every single baggage tractor out of that station has been thoroughly coated in human waste. Breaks are non existent for people who are go getters, they will fully take advantage of you. They will sometimes request employees to take on 16 hour shifts without the station managers approval, and many new employees get wheeled in like suckers. Everyone in management there is a total joke, pushing workloads that are unrealistic on anyone they can, verbal abuse, inaccurate time keeping, you name any poor work ethic and you will find it there.

Worked on the Ramp for 2+ years at YYZ. Just like any other job, you must take the good with the bad. The job consists of constant movement (lifting, kneeling, bending, walking). When loading and offloading aircraft you are subjected to a confined area (pit) where back problems will surely arise if you're not on your knees. Also, it can get really hot inside the pit, especially in the summer. Other duties include marshaling the aircraft, which is one of the more exciting aspects of the job. The Job can be very strenuous at times, and you must be prepared for all weather conditions, but it is not too bad. Also, the people that you work with are for the most part very chill and friendly. My main criticism of this job is the management and LACK OF TRAINING. The training at this company is an absolute joke. Most if not all the new hires come out of on-the-job training as if they didn't go there at all. Some of them can't follow basic safety measures like walking towards a running BOEING-737 engine. The turnover rate is also very high as the company maintains about 20% percent of their new hire classes. The blame should go to the recruiters as they clearly can't hire reliable workers and are always understaffed.

Joined Menzies back when they were short staffed, work was hard and hours were long. Typical day started with punching in on an electronic time clock, checking with allocators when your flight comes in. The team lead will brief the agents before the flight arrives. There is plenty of place to move  up in the ranks, I went from ramp agent to ramp lead in just 3 months. Pay went from $12.50 an hour to $16.50. Hardest part is working in all kinds of weather including rain and snow. On those days your socks would be soaking wet and all your clothes would be soaked. The most enjoyable part of this job is getting out a heavy flight out on time, even when the supervisors know it probably won't leave on time. Safety incidents are mostly forgiven here, I was supposed to be fired a long time ago but the union was good. Good benefits, dental up to 2k after 6 months of work. During slow season its not considered strange to be doing 2-3 flights on a 8 hour shift with only 2 hours of work and 6 hours of walking around the airport terminals and chilling outside with other workers.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Nothing. This company will suck the very life out of you and play mind games with its employees, they are really quite pathetic with regard to company integrity and empathy.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Working alongside individuals that seek to manipulate you for their own benefit and use their positions within the company to fuel their overly inflated egos

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Viciously Toxic, they aim to exploit you and undermine you regardless of your tenure, medical conditions, family situations and arrangements, I could quite frankly go on but my point has been made.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Constant stress and belittlement, vicious retaliation if I speak to someone “I’m not permitted to speak to due to a pecking order” even though the company acts as if it is a “zero retaliation” environment. I would also be required by my management team to complete other people s work, while they do as they pleased. Also being viciously chastised for things that were caused out of my control, blame shifting, etc.

Manager was very overworked and departments understaffed, leaving large gaps of miscommunications and misunderstanding. Human resorces lack support for onboarding, training, or scheduling organization with no essential items such as company emails or training structures were giving. No initial start time, end time or genetal day to day schedule was set out. The expectation was not clear as to personal time vs company time. Low work/life balance. 

Employees were competent, helpful and informative, however almost daily issues with attendance. Due to the nature of the industry and business, higher than average compensation and occasional overtime available. Great for part time work around part time/online/summer post secondary education. Non management/supervisory possitions were unionized. 

All factors leading to high turn over of staff, lowered morale, higher stress of current employees.

I worked here for over 3yrs. Towards the later half of my employment, 'management', would put me, my job and crew at risk of losing our jobs everyday.

They were operating outside of their guidelines and when I approached them about it several times it was swept under the rug.

It wasn't until I was fed up with the risk of not only myself but of others when I decided to call it quits. I couldn't bare the responsibility of something happening that was out of my hands.

Everyone's experience will be different I can say that. 
If I had the opportunity to work here again would take it in a heart beat. Not every job will be easy but the issue here can be fixed with communication and eyes fixed on the prize. 

You will not find a better airside company to start your aviation journey.

The pros out weigh the cons.
Its just a matter of 'what are you willing to put up with'.

What will you stand for.

Wish you all the best and hope your opportunity goes better than mine.

Although working at the airport is fun Menzies Aviation gave me the most Airside experience thusfar.  I learned to do tasks that now can further excel me within the airport.  Which opens doors and gives me opportunity.  It isnt for the weak hearted though, you work in all weather conditions we were out there in -40 and +35 day and night for regular pay($12-13/hr)  my co-workers were fun to be around and it makes your work environment alot better to deal with on a day to day basis.  typical work day arrive at work punch in you are then designated a crew(3-4 ppl)  then you follow your schedule of flights that will be arriving and departing on your shift.  your crew is responsible for handling these flights doing things like bringin in the plane and wing walking it out, as well as loading and unloading of bags and cargo filling the water and giving the airplane ground power while it is temporarily on the gate.

Okay I can’t even tell you but I’m starting to hate it. I know this job is life and death but come on a mistake is a mistake. I got my third strike which could mean termination or suspension. As I’ve read some of the comments. A person said that one mistake could humiliate and dock you for the whole day. It’s true I just got a third strike because a stroller with a blue tag fell off the belt. As I’ve explained to the supervisor. I told him once I putted the stroller facing down on its wheels. It started rolling a bit then once I’d let go it rolled all the way down and fell of the belt. He said that it was on purpose plus irresponsible. From my perspective it rolled a bit and plus mistakes are mistakes. Tomorrow I have to face punishment. For your information no one even saw the stroller fell down except my co workers. They all made a big deal about it. Huh one time I even heard a lead tried to push a plane and eventually hit the plane with the push. Never even got a warning that shi.....

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Baggage handler 9 salaries reported	$18.95 per hour
Fueler 4 salaries reported	$24.75 per hour
Cargo agent 13 salaries reported	$16.70 per hour
Passenger service agent 3 salaries reported	$21.17 per hour
Operator 6 salaries reported	$20.04 per hour

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