*Reports indicate several major companies and organisations are requiring the same measure and finding a good payoff around the world

*United Airlines and Ghanaian authorities have welcomed the resumption of the Airlines reconnecting Washington, D.C., in the United States, and Accra

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

In order to demonstrate how serious the transnational airline is taking the opportunity to be flying again, Delta Airlines will require all new employees to be vaccinated against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

It was learnt the airline鈥檚 move makes it one of the few major corporations to mandate that hiring requirement.

Ed Bastian, Chief Executive of Delta Airlines, said in an interview with CNN evening Thursday, May 13, 2021, said: 鈥淎ny person joining Delta in the future, a future employee, we鈥檙e going to mandate they be vaccinated before they can sign up with the company.鈥�

United Airlines reconnects Washington, D.C., and Accra聽 聽Photo: SimpleFlying

Bastian though stated the Airlines current staff are exempted, he said 75-80 percent of employees have already been vaccinated, and that he would 鈥渟trongly encourage鈥� the others to step up as well.

As Delta Airlines has made the first move, it鈥檚 possible that other global airlines may follow suit soon.

But, for the time being, Delta is flying solo in this effort, according to report.

Recall that United鈥檚 President Scott Kirby floated the idea to employees January 2021, but he said the carrier could not 鈥渞ealistically be the only company鈥� to do so at the time.

Vaccination requirements for employees are starting to grow

Vaccinations for all employees in businesses and organisations are fast gaining currency amid the Coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns in many lands.

Should 鈥� or much less, can 鈥� companies require employees to be vaccinated to get or keep a job? Some have asked.

New York Times鈥� Niraj Chokshi said: 鈥淔or large corporations, such decisions are thorny.

鈥淥n the one hand, requiring vaccinations for all employees would lower the anxiety of workers returning to the office and help the country reach herd immunity, which would support the economic rebound.

However, Chokshi stated that 鈥渙n the other, it raises privacy concerns and could risk a backlash or even litigation.鈥�

Nevertheless, companies are starting to lean toward a pro-vaccination requirement, agency report noted.

A new survey, conducted by Arizona State University鈥檚 College of Health Solutions with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, found that nearly 70 percent of the United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) employers currently perform COVID-19 testing for their employees, and 90 percent intend to motivate or require vaccination.

Those in favour of the requirement say they鈥檝e seen one impressive payoff 鈥� that productivity and morale are up.

A majority of employers said their employees鈥� engagement and productivity have gone up since the pandemic, and 44 percent report that employee morale has gone up.

That鈥檚 compared to 26 percent, indicating that morale went down since the pandemic began.

Mental health and employee burnout had a devastating impact during the pandemic. Close to 80 percent of employers said the mental health of their workers has become a top priority since the pandemic started.

Half the employers said they鈥檙e stepping up and making available company resources related to mental health.

United Airlines reconnects Washington鈹�Accra, Nigeria next

Meanwhile, representatives of United Airlines and Ghanaian authorities Saturday, May 15, 2021, welcomed the resumption of United Airlines as the airline鈥檚 first flight landed in Accra, Ghana.

The airline reconnected Washington, D.C., and Accra, according to AirInsight.

Likewise, this comes as the airline is planning to offer non-stop service between Lagos and Washington, D.C., with a new, three-time weekly service.

The airline operated Lagos to Houston prior to the 2016 economic depression amid foreign airlines鈥� N120billion stuck in Nigeria.

United鈥檚 exit left Delta as the only US carrier that continued to offer nonstop services between Atlanta, Lagos, and Abuja.

Though definite date yet, the airline has said the new route is subject to government approval, and that tickets would be available for purchase on United.com and the United app in the coming weeks, according to report.

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