United Airlines Earns Top Marks on Disability Equality Index

Company named one of the "Best Places to Work" for 2016 by the American Association of People with Disabilities and the U.S. Business Leadership Network

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United Airlines

Jul 13, 2016, 03:16 ET

CHICAGO, July 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines achieved the top score of 100 percent on the 2016 Disability Equality Index (DEI), a prominent benchmarking metric that rates U.S. companies on their disability inclusion policies and practices. This designation also earns United a place on DEI's 2016 "Best Places to Work" list.

The DEI, a joint initiative by the American Association of People with Disabilities and the U.S. Business Leadership Network, evaluates companies based on four categories: culture and leadership, enterprise-wide access, employment practices and community engagement and support services.

"This recognition is the result of the dedication from our employees all around the world that help ease travel for our customers, and build a culture that embraces our employees with disabilities," said Mike Bonds, United's executive vice president of human resources and labor relations. "We continue to invest in technology, and training programs that improve accessibility, and remain committed to promoting an inclusive work environment."

United is one of 42 Fortune 1000 companies that received 100 percent on the 2016 DEI. This perfect score is partly due to advancements in United's e-commerce and digital accessibility, as well as giving employees the option to a voluntarily disclose disabilities on an internal human resources portal.

United has created programs, including its Accessible Travel Advisory Board, to educate employees and identify policies and procedures that will help make travel more accessible for people with disabilities. The company also participates in the Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities (COSD) annual conference. Through the relationship with COSD, United actively recruits students with disabilities to join the United team.

United also partners with groups like Open Doors Organization – an organization dedicated to ensuring people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else – to incorporate best practices in the company's accessibility initiatives. Additionally, United works closely with airports around the country to host Project Airport, a program that enables customers living with disabilities to visit the airport and practice traveling without ever leaving the ground.

About United

United Airlines and United Express operate an average of 5,000 flights a day to 336 airports across six continents. In 2015, United and United Express operated more than 1.5 million flights carrying more than 140 million customers. United is proud to have the world's most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates more than 715 mainline aircraft, and this year, the airline anticipates taking delivery of 21 new Boeing aircraft, including 737 NGs, 787s and 777s. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 192 countries via 28 member airlines. Approximately 86,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

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SOURCE United Airlines