Trevor James
American Airlines has not mandated COVID-19 vaccination for its employees, but it has incentivized them to get vaccinated by offering an extra vacation day in 2022, along with a $50 reward. The airline has also stated that it is fully engaged in the effort to make vaccination available to our team as quickly and widely as possible. However, American Airlines has not mandated that passengers be vaccinated, which has raised questions about the safety of its employees and travelers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Vaccination Mandate | No |
| Vaccination Incentives | Yes |
| Incentive Details | Extra vacation day in 2022, $50 reward, and Nonstop Thanks reward points |
| Deadline | November 24 |
| Penalty | Termination |
| Exemptions | Medical disability or religious reasons |
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What You'll Learn
American Airlines' stance on vaccination
American Airlines has not mandated COVID-19 vaccination for its employees. However, it has offered incentives to encourage employees to get vaccinated. In a joint letter to employees, American Airlines President Robert Isom and CEO Doug Parker wrote:
> As we close out the first week of March, we remain optimistic that 2021 will be a year of recovery for American. We still don’t know how quickly demand will return, but we know vaccines will be an important part of the recovery. That’s why we are fully engaged in the effort to make vaccination available to our team as quickly and widely as possible. [...] Get vaccinated as soon as possible — to protect yourself and others. More than 500,000 people in the United States have lost their lives to COVID-19, including some of our own colleagues.
American Airlines incentivized employees to get vaccinated by offering an extra vacation day in 2022, plus a $50 reward. This was in contrast to other airlines such as Etihad, which became the first major airline to have all pilots and cabin crew vaccinated, and did not offer an incentive. Emirates and El Al have also operated flights with every crew member vaccinated.
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Incentives for employees
While American Airlines has not mandated COVID-19 vaccination for its employees, it has incentivized vaccination by offering an extra vacation day in 2022 and a $50 reward. This approach is preferred by some over strict vaccine mandates, as it encourages vaccination without being overly coercive.
In the United States, employers that implement vaccine incentives must consider issues such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) affordability, compliance with relevant laws and regulations, and Title VII discrimination. For example, in some states, an incentive could be considered discriminatory and may not be allowed. Additionally, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), information about an employee's COVID-19 vaccination status must be kept confidential and stored separately from the employee's personnel file.
Some of the most common incentives offered by employers include additional vacation days, paid time off (PTO), gift cards, cash bonuses, and contributions to health savings accounts. While these incentives can be provided on a tax-favored basis if tied to the employer's group medical plan, they should be treated as taxable to the employee if given in the form of PTO, gift cards, or cash.
Overall, providing incentives for employees to get vaccinated is a legal method for employers to encourage vaccination, but it should be done carefully and in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
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Federal rules and mandates
American Airlines is considered a government contractor under President Joe Biden's coronavirus vaccine mandate. As such, the airline has told its employees that they must be vaccinated in accordance with federal rules. In a joint letter, American Airlines President Robert Isom and CEO Doug Parker wrote, "we know vaccines will be an important part of the recovery. That’s why we are fully engaged in the effort to make vaccination available to our team as quickly and widely as possible".
American Airlines is not the only airline to announce vaccine mandates for employees. Other airlines requiring vaccines include JetBlue Airways, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Southwest Airlines. These airlines have cited their status as federal contractors, transporting government employees and providing services like emergency flights, as the reason for their mandate.
The federal mandate does not allow for a testing alternative, but workers can request a medical disability or religious exemption. American Airlines has offered incentives to employees who get vaccinated, such as an extra vacation day and $50 of Nonstop Thanks reward points.
While some have applauded the mandate, others have expressed concerns about forcing staff to take the vaccine. Some airlines, like Etihad and Emirates, have seen high uptake in vaccinations without offering incentives. American Airlines has taken a less forceful approach by incentivizing employees to get vaccinated rather than mandating it.
The airline industry benefits from a vaccinated workforce that won't have to quarantine or call out sick, and unvaccinated crew members may be limited in their duties as many countries require people to be vaccinated to enter.
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Exemptions and accommodations
American Airlines has not mandated COVID-19 vaccination for its employees, but it has offered incentives for them to get vaccinated. These incentives include an extra day of paid vacation and $50 of Nonstop Thanks reward points. However, the airline has stated that employees who are not vaccinated by November 24, 2021, will face termination.
American Airlines falls under the federal contractor category because it transports government employees and provides other services, such as emergency flights for Afghanistan evacuees. As a result, the company must comply with President Joe Biden's vaccine mandate for government contractors, which does not allow for a testing alternative.
American Airlines employees can still request exemptions from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. The airline will provide accommodations for workers who are granted exemptions, such as those with medical disabilities or specific religious beliefs that prevent them from being vaccinated.
While some airlines, like Etihad and Emirates, have achieved high vaccination rates without offering incentives, American Airlines has chosen to encourage vaccination through incentives rather than mandating it. This approach aims to balance the health and safety benefits of a vaccinated workforce with the potential concerns and preferences of employees regarding vaccination.
Ultimately, American Airlines' decision to incentivize vaccination recognizes the importance of employee health and safety while navigating the complexities of vaccine mandates in the travel industry.
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Employee reactions and opinions
As of January 2022, American Airlines has imposed new restrictions on unvaccinated U.S. employees. The airline has stated that more than 96% of its employees have either submitted proof of vaccination or requested a religious or medical exemption from the mandate. However, it is unclear what will happen to the remaining 4% who are unvaccinated and have not received an exemption.
Previously, American Airlines had told pilots to take the COVID-19 vaccine on their own time and was preparing a voluntary program for employee vaccinations at airports across the country. The airline did not initially require employees to be vaccinated unless mandated by certain countries for entry. American Airlines also incentivized employees to get vaccinated by offering an extra vacation day in 2022, plus a $50 reward.
Some American Airlines employees have expressed their opinions on the vaccine mandate. One pilot asked why, if all employees are required to be vaccinated, passengers are not subject to the same requirement. Another comment suggested that the mandate is not about safety but rather about government regulation and the bottom line for the airline.
There have been mixed reactions from employees of other airlines regarding vaccine mandates. For example, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby stated his preference for mandatory vaccination for all employees, but acknowledged that this would require other companies to take a similar stance. On the other hand, social media users, including US Senator Ted Cruz and Donald Trump Jr., have criticized vaccine mandates and suggested that mass flight cancellations were caused by strikes in opposition to mandatory vaccination. However, these claims were refuted by the airline and the pilots' union, who stated that there was no work slowdown or sick-out related to the vaccine mandate.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, all American Airlines employees in the U.S. were required to be fully vaccinated by November 24, 2021, or face termination.
American Airlines incentivized employees to get vaccinated by offering an extra vacation day in 2022, plus a $50 reward.
American Airlines is considered a government contractor under President Joe Biden's vaccine mandate. The airline also acknowledged that vaccines will be an important part of the recovery from the pandemic.
No, there is no airline passenger vaccination mandate.
