United Airlines is now embracing its unvaccinated employees back to work after previously forcing them to take their unpaid leaves or even asking them to switch their roles.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 01: A United Airlines employee works in a check-in area at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on October 1, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. United Airlines and American Airlines are set to start furloughing 32,000 employees today after negotiations for a new coronavirus aid package failed in Washington.
United Airlines Embraces 2,000 Unvaccinated Employees
As per a news story by CNBC, United Airlines announced to its workforce that the firm will now be allowing its employees that do not have their COVID-19 vaccines to go back to work beginning on March 28.
The vice president of the human resources of United Airlines, Kirk Limacher, said in a meme to its employees that the lowering number of new COVID-19 cases is one of the reasons why it is relaxing its vaccine mandates.
On top of that, the United Airlines exec also cited the massive drop in COVID-19 hospitalizations, as well as the more relaxed mask mandate in various localities in the US.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 05: A passenger arrives for a United Airlines flight at O'Hare International Airport on February 05, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. United Airlines and American Airlines, two of the nation’s largest carriers, are anticipating having to furlough thousands of employees as both companies continue to see a pandemic-related lag in air travel.
Limacher went on to note that all of these "suggest that the pandemic is beginning to meaningfully recede."
The United VP adds that it further shows that the airlines could start allowing its exempted unvaccinated employees to go back to their roles in the company.
United Airlines vs. Unvaccinated Employees
It is worth noting that the airlines previously required all of its employees in the United States to take their jab against the novel coronavirus, threatening those who would not comply with termination.
According to a recent report by Business Insider, United previously required its employees to get their COVID-19 jabs until September 27, noting that those who do not get inoculated will be losing their jobs.
A United Airlines logo is seen behind the ticket counter at Chicago's O'Hare airport on August 13, 2013. The US Justice Department and several states sued Tuesday to block the $11 billion merger between American Airlines and US Airways, saying it would reduce competition and push up fares.
As such, the airlines had to let go of about 200 workers as they failed to get their COVID-19 vaccines before the deadline.
However, the strict mandate of United also made it possible that 99% of their employees in the United States already got inoculated before the September deadline last 2021.
Meanwhile, though, there were around 2,200 employees of United Airlines who are still unvaccinated, but are staying in the firm. It comes after these workers have either got a medical or religious exemption, allowing them to keep their jobs.
However, these folks were forced to either take unpaid leave or opt for a new position in the company that does not require facing customers.
Related Article: United Airlines Requires Employees to Get COVID-19 Vaccination or They Could Risk Termination
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Written by Teejay Boris
