A health worker wears personal protective equipment (PPE) during a United Airlines pilot Covid-19 test program at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, USA, on Monday, November 16, 2020.
Angus Mordant | Bloomberg | Getty Images
The United Airlines CEO wants to make Covid-19 vaccines mandatory for employees and is encouraging other companies to do the same.
It is a stance that differs from what some other operators and companies have said recently. United had more than 60,000 active employees in the U.S. at the end of 2020 and sent recall notices to about 17,000 other workers whose jobs were cut last year.
“The worst thing I believe I will do in my career is the letters I wrote to the surviving members of the family of co-workers we lost to the coronavirus,” said CEO Scott Kirby at an employee prefecture on Thursday, a transcript of which was reviewed 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.”
Kirby recognized the logistical challenges for vaccinating employees.
Airline employees are considered essential workers and are among the first groups to receive vaccines. But the launch so far has been slow and chaotic, with the nation chasing targets.
“I don’t think United is going to get away with it and may realistically be the only company that requires vaccines and makes them mandatory,” he said. “We need some others. We need some others to show leadership. Particularly in the healthcare sector.”
In the team’s note, he said he is working with government officials and health care providers to establish vaccine distribution centers in some of its large centers.
Southwest Airlines said last week that it does not “currently” require employees to receive vaccines from Covid-19, but said it strongly encouraged the team to do so.
American Airlines takes a similar approach, telling employees last week that “We do not plan to require our team members to receive the vaccine unless the vaccines are mandatory for entry to certain destinations.”
United told employees in a team note this week to get vaccinated as soon as possible and not to wait for guidance from the airline.
Some companies are trying to persuade workers to get the vaccine by offering additional payment. The yogurt and food company Chobani said it would give employees in its factories and offices up to six hours of paid time to receive the two vaccines.
So far, some retailers like Aldi, Lidl and Dollar General have announced similar plans to offer extra payment. Aldi said it would also like to open vaccination clinics in its warehouses and offices to make it easier for workers to get vaccines and remove obstacles to getting childcare or transportation.