"This is not a threat but advice to prioritise primary vs secondary," Pramod Malik said.
A senior SpiceJet executive has asked pilots flying its Q400 aircraft to follow "some work ethics", telling them in an email that if they don't get a salary for a month they will automatically give up the "trivial" issues that are taking priority over flight operations.
Pramod Malik, who is the fleet captain for Q400 aircraft, said, "Please learn to prioritise your work because if you don't get the salary for a month then automatically those trivial priorities will vanish (leading to) ''No Money No Honey'' situation."
"This is not a threat but advice to prioritise primary vs secondary and follow some work ethics," Mr Malik stated in his Saturday's email, which has been accessed by the PTI.
He told the pilots to just "pause" and think before every situation and then decide "whether to commit or not to commit for some occasion".
Asked about the "trivial issues" mentioned in the communication, a SpiceJet spokesperson said, "The said letter is a standard periodic communication from the management to its employees to motivate and guide them to prioritise their core responsibilities in the organisation."
"SpiceJet strives to achieve a healthy work culture with an emphasis on safeguarding work ethics, work-life balance and well-being of its employees."
The rostering followed for all the pilots (including Q400 fleet) is at par with the best in the industry and ensures a patient hearing to employee feedback," he said.
In November last year, SpiceJet had reported widening of loss to Rs 462.6 crore in the second quarter of 2019-20, mainly hit by expenses related to grounding of Boeing 737 MAX planes and changes in accounting norms.
As on January 14, SpiceJet has a fleet of 82 Boeing 737 aircraft, 32 Bombardier Q400 planes and five Boeing 737 freighter aircraft.
Mr Malik, in his email, has also said, "We are all mature people, then how come some of us are not able to prioritise and differentiate what is primary and what could be secondary."
"I get to hear very trivial issues taking priority over the flight operations (for which you have been hired by the company and you are getting paid). These individuals need to take advice from their near and dear ones if they themselves are not able to decide how to prioritise," he added.
SpiceJet is the country's largest regional player operating, 49 daily flights under Centre's Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN, which connects underserved and unserved airports. The Q400 aircraft in its fleet are primarily used on such UDAN routes only.