United Airlines announced Friday that all U.S. employees would be required to get vaccinated against coronavirus beginning in the fall. This was the first major airline to implement such a mandate, and it is the latest in a growing number of businesses that have done so.There is no greater responsibility than ours to you and your coworkers to ensure safety at work. The facts are clear: Everyone is safer if everyone is vaccinated. This was the conclusion of Scott Kirby, chief executive officer of the airline, and Brett Hart (its president), in a memo to their employees.Within five weeks of the Federal Drug Administration approving the vaccine, or Oct. 25, employees will need to submit proof of vaccination. All employees who submit proof of vaccination by Sept. 20 or earlier will be paid a full day's pay. This excludes pilots and flight attendants, who may have received a union-negotiated bonus to get vaccinated. The airline stated that so far, approximately 90 percent of Uniteds' pilots and 80 per cent of its flight attendants have been immunized.Failure to adhere to the policy will result in employees being fired. United will accept exceptions for medical or religious reasons, but documentation will be required.
