Each year, we honor 100 employees across United who truly embody our “core4” values: safe, caring, dependable, and efficient. After pausing the United 100 award last year at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we brought it back in spectacular fashion in October.
In Hangar X at Houston Intercontinental, CEO Scott Kirby, Labor Relations Executive Vice President Kate Gebo, and Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Toby Enqvist brought together 100 employees to announce the winners of the United 100 award for 2020. As it turned out, every employee at United was a well-deserved winner.
“The pandemic tested us all like never before, but your perseverance, commitment, and hard work are the things that really helped United emerge on the other side as a better, stronger airline,” said Kirby.
“We couldn’t just select 100 winners for 2020, as each one of our employees truly went above and beyond to take care of each other and our customers during this difficult year,” Gebo added.
That wasn’t the only big news at the ceremony, either. Kirby surprised United employees by announcing that they will receive a special award of $1,000 for their exceptional work during 2020. Everyone in attendance at Hangar X erupted in applause upon hearing the news.
“I am speechless, and I am usually not at a loss of words,” said Houston-based flight attendant Aquatta Thomas. “We have definitely been ‘United Together’ during these hard and trying times.”
Finally, to commemorate the contributions our employees made during the pandemic, we unveiled a new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft with a decal declaring “United Together”— our mantra during the pandemic—and “Being United” painted on the sides. See if you can spot it when you fly with us in the future.
“We appreciate the things you did to support our customers and one another during the crisis,” Kirby told employees at Hangar X and beyond. “Thank you once again for showing that we’re stronger when we are united.”
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