Move of the Month: 4/14
As a report criticises the cruise industry, is Carnival's new VP-HR sailing into deep water?Congratulations to Dolores Caliccio, who has just been appointed Vice-President – Shipboard Human Resources for Carnival Cruise Lines, which operates 24 vessels and accounts for 21.1% of worldwide market share. But if you think Dolores will be spending all her time lazing on deck playing quoits, and sipping bubbles at the Captain’s table every night, think again.
Currently, the world of cruising human resources is not plain sailing. A recent report from Leeds Metropolitan University has accused the industry of being lacking in terms of CSR, and its treatment of employees in particular. The big cruise lines have disputed the findings but an argument rumbles on.
The report cites shipboard working conditions as a particular point of contention:
Work conditions differ considerably from land based staff, due to the temporary nature of contracts, working in isolation during long periods of time, and unclear application of legislation unfavourable to the workers due in part to the use of flags and convenience… Intermediary and recruitment agencies in developing countries add charges for medical examinations, visas, transport and administration and often put workers into a level of debt that cannot be repaid and [is] comparable to forced labor.
It also claims that there is ‘violation of rights’ against disadvantaged groups ‘with tasks allocated and salaries paid according to nationality and cultural background, not capability or performance.’
Apart from everything else, Ms Caliccio has a huge amount of people to look after. Carnival claims 35,000 shipboard employees, which makes it bigger than any UK employer other than the NHS, government departments and the armed forces.
No wonder the organisation chose such a heavyweight – Ms Caliccio has a strong background in healthcare and pharma businesses, including significant roles at Johnson & Johnson and Merck.
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