United Airlines CEO says he wants to make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory

United Airlines CEO says he wants to make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory

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United CEO Scott Kirby says he is considering making the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory among employees

United CEO Scott Kirby says he is considering making the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory among employees

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby announced that he is in favor of a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy for all employees and says other companies should follow suit.

Kirby spoke on Thursday during a meeting with city officials, where she informed the team that she is strongly considering the move.

“The worst thing I believe I will do in my career is the letters I wrote to family members of co-workers we lost to the coronavirus,” he said, according to a transcript obtained by CNBC.

‘And then, for me, because I have confidence in the safety of the vaccine – and I recognize that it is controversial – I think the right thing to do is United Airlines, and other companies, to require the vaccines and make them mandatory. ‘

Legally, private American companies may require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, but they are unlikely to do so due to the risks of legal and cultural reaction, experts said.

A United Airlines attendant is photographed during onboard service amid the coronavirus pandemic, when both workers and passengers were forced to wear masks amid more stringent aircraft cleaning requirements

A United Airlines attendant is photographed during onboard service amid the coronavirus pandemic, when both workers and passengers were forced to wear masks amid more stringent aircraft cleaning requirements

CAN MY EMPLOYER MAKE ME TAKE THE STRIP?

US employers can legally require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

It is likely, however, that most will make the injection optional, labor lawyers say.

Although employers may require vaccines, there are exceptions and variations depending on the case and jurisdiction – which means that enforcing a mandatory policy can pose a difficult and time-consuming legal challenge for employers.

And legal experts also say that employers are likely to stay away from a term because, in many cases, they can be held responsible if an employee experiences an adverse reaction.

Workers also have the right to oppose mandatory vaccination under anti-discrimination laws, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which allows employees to be exempt if it is against a ‘sincere religious belief’.

Personal or ethical objections or personal anti-vaccination positions are not covered by this law.

Those with medical disabilities can also apply for an exemption under the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA.

If using the ADA to request an exemption from an employer mandate, the worker must prove that he has a medical condition that makes it unsafe to get the vaccine.

Meanwhile, Kirby’s comments are the first time that a major American airline has announced plans to make filming mandatory for employees.

Competing airlines American and Southwest have so far only strongly encouraged employees to get vaccinated.

The latest survey by Pew Research indicates that 60 percent of Americans say they would definitely or probably get a coronavirus vaccine if it were available to them today.

That rose from 51 percent who said the same thing in September. However, about four out of ten still say they would definitely or probably not get the vaccine.

A United spokeswoman confirmed in a statement on Friday that the company was “strongly considering” making vaccines mandatory, although it is not yet a policy.

“If others agree and are willing to impose vaccines, you should probably expect United to be among the first wave of companies to do so,” Kirby told officials.

‘I don’t think United is going to get away with it and may actually be the only company that requires vaccines and makes them mandatory.

‘We need some others. We need others to show leadership. Particularly in the health sector, ‘he added.

United Airlines was the largest international flight operator in the United States before the pandemic prevented global travel and effectively hurt the civil aviation industry.

At the end of 2020, United had more than 60,000 active employees in the United States. Since then, it has issued recall notices to 17,000 workers who were licensed earlier this year.

As for vaccines, employees can oppose mandatory vaccines by requesting an exemption under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The companies are still in the initial stages of accessing and distributing the vaccines against the virus, but inoculation is considered the key to safely resume operations in crowded warehouses, factory lines and sales areas.

On Thursday, Southwest Airlines announced that it would vaccinate its employees against COVID-19 for free as soon as a vaccine is widely available in the United States, but has not yet released plans to make it mandatory.

The airline said its employees were strongly encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

“We have teams working to identify third parties who can provide vaccines to our employees as soon as they can do so – probably during the later stages of the vaccine implantation plan,” Southwest said in a statement.

Vaccines are paid for by the federal government and administrative fees will be covered by Southwest employees in their health plans, the company said.

United is among United States airlines that actively lobby the new Biden government to re-open borders for people who have tested negative for COVID-19 prior to travel or who have been vaccinated.

President Joe Biden has indicated that he plans to maintain the ban on most travelers from Europe and Brazil and require a quarantine for all international air passengers upon arrival in the United States, but acted quickly on Thursday to resolve the COVID-19 pandemic. with measures to expand testing and vaccinations and increase mask use.

A man receives the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at a Connecticut hospital on Friday. The United Airlines CEO said that such doses should be mandatory among workers.

A man receives the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at a Connecticut hospital on Friday. The United Airlines CEO said that such doses should be mandatory among workers.

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