5 ms·

Please educate me on this: if there was a “sick-out", wouldn't it be in the interest of the management to admit it to shame/pressure those participating? What's

Please educate me on this: if there was a “sick-out", wouldn't it be in the interest of the management to admit it to shame/pressure those participating? What's the interest in hiding it (if it's true)?

cpeterso 5y ago
Management doesn't want potential customers to worry that their flights might get canceled and instead schedule flights with another airline.
- speedybird 5y ago
  Well it's a bit too late for that I think. For years when I've flown, I fly with Southwest without a second thought about it (except when flying in the PNW, then I prefer Alaskan.) Well over the past few days I've been working with family to make plans for this Christmas and I found myself thinking that it might be prudent to look at other airlines this time. I'm not completely confident that Southwest won't collapse completely and upset my plans. I don't know what's happening in that company but things smell rotten and I've lost my confidence about their future. Maybe this isn't a realistic concern, but if I'm thinking it I wager I'm not the only one.
vineyardmike 5y ago
Because a lot of customers are on "the other side" and are against mandates. If you ostracize those customers, you could be doing long term damage still.
strstr 5y ago
Shame sounds like a bad way to retain otherwise reasonable employees.
bpodgursky 5y ago
The theory being spread around is that pilots had a sick-out because they oppose Southwest's vaccine mandate, based on fears about blood clots + flying.
- google234123 5y ago
  So why would everyone hide it?
  - nafix 5y ago
    Because when the public hears about other reasonable people showing hesitancy, it shows that the media narrative isn't as true as it is made to be. I imagine it is to the advantage of both pilots and SW to not admit it is about the vaccine, because the media would take advantage of that fact otherwise. Also the pilots can't admit to a sick-out one way or another to avoid legal repercussions. Not saying this issue is because of the vaccine mandate, but it would make sense with the way this story is playing out.
    - fidesomnes 5y ago
      [dead]
    - sharkmerry 5y ago
      Wouldn't the union then take credit to try to give an example of people showing hesitancy? The union president is denying its a walkout, official or un-official
      - jaywalk 5y ago
        They legally aren't allowed to do it, officially or unofficially. So the union cannot "take credit" for it.
      - Ekaros 5y ago
        If they can get hit really hard for it, it's better to play along and not admit anything.
    - mynameishere 5y ago
      Why are you using the painfully obvious propaganda term "hesitancy"? There is very little "hesitancy" at this point. There are people saying, "I am the sovereign of my body and you will not force your unnecessary medical interventions on me, period. This is the hill i die on." That is not hesitancy.
jacobwilliamroy 5y ago
Unless it wasn't of interest to the management. Sometimes people just go crazy an make bad decisions. Sometimes people just go crazy and make bad decisions.
Nasrudith 5y ago
Shaming doesn't seem like it would work well when people believe they are right. However CEOs sweeping problems under the rug is more or less expected (good ones solve them, bad ones make temporary problems permanent trying to solve them and don't fix solvable ones). Things "going wrong" makes them look bad so that is more or less what the selectors want - wisely or otherwise.
croutonwagon 5y ago
Millionaires and Execs arent too popular these days. That could just as easily backfire. It does appear as if a lot of companies are going to be dealing with a bit of "brain drain" int he near future....especially ones unwilling to be more accepting of WFH...
TimMeade 5y ago
Primary reason is money. Weather and millitary ATC etc are "acts of god". no refunds. Sick out etc refunds and pay big.
- dehrmann 5y ago
  But that's a class action suit and subpoena away from a massive mess.

cpeterso 5y ago

Management doesn't want potential customers to worry that their flights might get canceled and instead schedule flights with another airline.

speedybird 5y ago
Well it's a bit too late for that I think. For years when I've flown, I fly with Southwest without a second thought about it (except when flying in the PNW, then I prefer Alaskan.) Well over the past few days I've been working with family to make plans for this Christmas and I found myself thinking that it might be prudent to look at other airlines this time. I'm not completely confident that Southwest won't collapse completely and upset my plans. I don't know what's happening in that company but things smell rotten and I've lost my confidence about their future. Maybe this isn't a realistic concern, but if I'm thinking it I wager I'm not the only one.

vineyardmike 5y ago

Because a lot of customers are on "the other side" and are against mandates. If you ostracize those customers, you could be doing long term damage still.

strstr 5y ago

Shame sounds like a bad way to retain otherwise reasonable employees.

bpodgursky 5y ago

The theory being spread around is that pilots had a sick-out because they oppose Southwest's vaccine mandate, based on fears about blood clots + flying.

google234123 5y ago
So why would everyone hide it?
- nafix 5y ago
  Because when the public hears about other reasonable people showing hesitancy, it shows that the media narrative isn't as true as it is made to be. I imagine it is to the advantage of both pilots and SW to not admit it is about the vaccine, because the media would take advantage of that fact otherwise. Also the pilots can't admit to a sick-out one way or another to avoid legal repercussions. Not saying this issue is because of the vaccine mandate, but it would make sense with the way this story is playing out.
  - fidesomnes 5y ago
    [dead]
  - sharkmerry 5y ago
    Wouldn't the union then take credit to try to give an example of people showing hesitancy? The union president is denying its a walkout, official or un-official
    - jaywalk 5y ago
      They legally aren't allowed to do it, officially or unofficially. So the union cannot "take credit" for it.
    - Ekaros 5y ago
      If they can get hit really hard for it, it's better to play along and not admit anything.
  - mynameishere 5y ago
    Why are you using the painfully obvious propaganda term "hesitancy"? There is very little "hesitancy" at this point. There are people saying, "I am the sovereign of my body and you will not force your unnecessary medical interventions on me, period. This is the hill i die on." That is not hesitancy.

jacobwilliamroy 5y ago

Unless it wasn't of interest to the management. Sometimes people just go crazy an make bad decisions. Sometimes people just go crazy and make bad decisions.

Nasrudith 5y ago

Shaming doesn't seem like it would work well when people believe they are right. However CEOs sweeping problems under the rug is more or less expected (good ones solve them, bad ones make temporary problems permanent trying to solve them and don't fix solvable ones). Things "going wrong" makes them look bad so that is more or less what the selectors want - wisely or otherwise.

croutonwagon 5y ago

Millionaires and Execs arent too popular these days. That could just as easily backfire. It does appear as if a lot of companies are going to be dealing with a bit of "brain drain" int he near future....especially ones unwilling to be more accepting of WFH...

TimMeade 5y ago

Primary reason is money. Weather and millitary ATC etc are "acts of god". no refunds. Sick out etc refunds and pay big.

dehrmann 5y ago
But that's a class action suit and subpoena away from a massive mess.