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Charlotte Willis @lottiewillis 1h
Ex Big Brother housemate @BenFromBrisbane on the real reason he parted ways with Virgin. http://bit.ly/1w3zrHq @newscomauHQ
Big Brother contestant Ben Zabel says he was dismissed from Virgin because he suffered anxiety and depression
Ben Zabel says he was sacked after suffering severe anxiety and depression. Source: Supplied
FORMER Big Brother housemate Ben Zabel has broken his silence on the shock reason he parted ways with Virgin Australia.
The 31-year-old former flight attendant opened up on Facebook, on the one year anniversary of his dismissal from the airline, sharing the below post with his some 143,000 followers.
Ben Zabel made this statement on his Facebook fan page. Picture: Facebook Source: Facebook
Zabel, who came eighth in Nine’s reality game show in 2013, acknowledged that he wasn’t fit to fly at the time of his dismissal but was left bitterly disappointed by Virgin’s handling of it.
“I was dismissed because I wasn’t capable of fulfilling my duties as a flight attendant. I certainly wasn’t fit to fly, it was just the manner in which it happened,” he told news.com.au.
“I did nine and a half years without a break, continued full time service. I knew that I was entitled to long service leave.”
Zabel explained that at Virgin employees who have worked with the company for 10 years are entitled to long service leave and a free return flight anywhere in the world using their international carrier.
Zabel said that he wrote a personal letter to Virgin CEO John Borghetti and received a verbal apology from the company.
“Because I’d been there for so long, I applied for a number of different jobs and when I went for them they would stress that it was a very taxing job and imply that it was very intense on the mind.
“I didn’t qualify for any job on the ground and that was very sad,” he said, adding that he applied for seven jobs in total.
“It was clear that my medical record had been shared among the HR department but I can’t prove that, that’s big business,” he said.
“Legally they have done nothing wrong. Morally they might have a duty of care, but they didn’t try to find me anything, it doesn’t make them look good.”
Ben was visited by his idols Bert and Patti Newton in the Big Brother house. Source: Supplied
The former reality TV star said that he had been unemployed for six weeks when he applied to go on the show in April, 2013 and was “very open” with talent scouts about his ongoing struggle with anxiety and depression.
“I laid my heart bare for the Big Brother people because I didn’t want to waste their time.”
Since the post, Zabel has been bombarded with support, with over 66,000 likes and 1,200 shares online.
Zabel thanked supporters a few hours later, clarifying why he decided to open up 12 months after being let go.
“I’m so overwhelmed by the positive response to my post, thank you everyone from the bottom of my heart. For those who interpreted my post as a ‘name & shame’, I can assure you that wasn’t the intent. Otherwise I would have bored you with stories of ‘work doctors’, hiring solicitors to fight for pro rata, having my ‘illness’ held against me when applying for 7 ground duty jobs etc etc. All that achieves, is to foster negativity, that then creates a dialogue to the body, that then makes you sick.”
Sonia Kruger introduces Ben to the live audience before entering the house. Source: Supplied
The post continues: “The Virgin brand is a global brand, & will be around long after I’m forgot. I hold no malice towards Virgin Australia, it’s a company/entity, not a person. I have & will continue to fly Virgin. Why? Because their staff are amazing & deserve our support to keep them in jobs, & no one person is to blame for what happened to me. Look where it lead me?!”
Bert and Patti Newton chatting to Ben in the Dream World house. Source: Supplied
“The main reason I broke my silence (some of you already knew) on how I left Virgin, was that many lovely folks stop me in the street, & kindly ask me if I’ll ever consider returning to flying, sometime in the future. I use to just make a joke & fob the question away, as I was too embarrassed to admit, anxiety & depression got the better of me in my workplace. I then felt like I was lying to myself & lying to all of you by not telling you the full story. I pride myself on being genuine & honest, & Mum has always said, ‘the truth shall set you free’.”
“I’m sorry it took so long, but honestly I was scared of possible threats of legal action (silly I know!), the inevitable backlash from Virgin brand loyalists, people making broad assumptions on what sort of employee I might have been, & just the plain old stigma of mental illness!”
After being evicted from Big Brother Zabel scored a regular spot on Nine’s Mornings, doing Ben’s Movie Wrap and has been working with organisations to raise awareness of anxiety and depression.
Ben and Margaret Zabel attend a Paul Anka concert at Jupiters Theatre in Brisbane. Source: Supplied
For help with depression, contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 or at www.beyondblue.org.au
For help with emotional difficulties, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au
Ex Big Brother housemate @BenFromBrisbane on the real reason he parted ways with Virgin. http://bit.ly/1w3zrHq @newscomauHQ
Big Brother contestant Ben Zabel says he was dismissed from Virgin because he suffered anxiety and depression
- 1 hour ago July 10, 2014 1:46PM
Ben Zabel says he was sacked after suffering severe anxiety and depression. Source: Supplied
FORMER Big Brother housemate Ben Zabel has broken his silence on the shock reason he parted ways with Virgin Australia.
The 31-year-old former flight attendant opened up on Facebook, on the one year anniversary of his dismissal from the airline, sharing the below post with his some 143,000 followers.
Ben Zabel made this statement on his Facebook fan page. Picture: Facebook Source: Facebook
Zabel, who came eighth in Nine’s reality game show in 2013, acknowledged that he wasn’t fit to fly at the time of his dismissal but was left bitterly disappointed by Virgin’s handling of it.
“I was dismissed because I wasn’t capable of fulfilling my duties as a flight attendant. I certainly wasn’t fit to fly, it was just the manner in which it happened,” he told news.com.au.
“I did nine and a half years without a break, continued full time service. I knew that I was entitled to long service leave.”
Zabel explained that at Virgin employees who have worked with the company for 10 years are entitled to long service leave and a free return flight anywhere in the world using their international carrier.
Zabel said that he wrote a personal letter to Virgin CEO John Borghetti and received a verbal apology from the company.
“Because I’d been there for so long, I applied for a number of different jobs and when I went for them they would stress that it was a very taxing job and imply that it was very intense on the mind.
“I didn’t qualify for any job on the ground and that was very sad,” he said, adding that he applied for seven jobs in total.
“It was clear that my medical record had been shared among the HR department but I can’t prove that, that’s big business,” he said.
“Legally they have done nothing wrong. Morally they might have a duty of care, but they didn’t try to find me anything, it doesn’t make them look good.”
Ben was visited by his idols Bert and Patti Newton in the Big Brother house. Source: Supplied
The former reality TV star said that he had been unemployed for six weeks when he applied to go on the show in April, 2013 and was “very open” with talent scouts about his ongoing struggle with anxiety and depression.
“I laid my heart bare for the Big Brother people because I didn’t want to waste their time.”
Since the post, Zabel has been bombarded with support, with over 66,000 likes and 1,200 shares online.
Zabel thanked supporters a few hours later, clarifying why he decided to open up 12 months after being let go.
“I’m so overwhelmed by the positive response to my post, thank you everyone from the bottom of my heart. For those who interpreted my post as a ‘name & shame’, I can assure you that wasn’t the intent. Otherwise I would have bored you with stories of ‘work doctors’, hiring solicitors to fight for pro rata, having my ‘illness’ held against me when applying for 7 ground duty jobs etc etc. All that achieves, is to foster negativity, that then creates a dialogue to the body, that then makes you sick.”
Sonia Kruger introduces Ben to the live audience before entering the house. Source: Supplied
The post continues: “The Virgin brand is a global brand, & will be around long after I’m forgot. I hold no malice towards Virgin Australia, it’s a company/entity, not a person. I have & will continue to fly Virgin. Why? Because their staff are amazing & deserve our support to keep them in jobs, & no one person is to blame for what happened to me. Look where it lead me?!”
Bert and Patti Newton chatting to Ben in the Dream World house. Source: Supplied
“The main reason I broke my silence (some of you already knew) on how I left Virgin, was that many lovely folks stop me in the street, & kindly ask me if I’ll ever consider returning to flying, sometime in the future. I use to just make a joke & fob the question away, as I was too embarrassed to admit, anxiety & depression got the better of me in my workplace. I then felt like I was lying to myself & lying to all of you by not telling you the full story. I pride myself on being genuine & honest, & Mum has always said, ‘the truth shall set you free’.”
“I’m sorry it took so long, but honestly I was scared of possible threats of legal action (silly I know!), the inevitable backlash from Virgin brand loyalists, people making broad assumptions on what sort of employee I might have been, & just the plain old stigma of mental illness!”
After being evicted from Big Brother Zabel scored a regular spot on Nine’s Mornings, doing Ben’s Movie Wrap and has been working with organisations to raise awareness of anxiety and depression.
Ben and Margaret Zabel attend a Paul Anka concert at Jupiters Theatre in Brisbane. Source: Supplied
For help with depression, contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 or at www.beyondblue.org.au
For help with emotional difficulties, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au
TRFM Crew @trfmcrew 
cant imagine the pressure on the goalies 
Jade Albany @JadeAlbany 
Xo Dan
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