Mar 5, 2018, 1:08 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Update 5 March 2018 per Chicago Tribune (and confirmed by internal employee memo
United walks back new bonus lottery system that angered employees
Per Chicago Business Journal, 2 March 2018
United Airlines employees shocked: Bonuses replaced with lottery
United walks back new bonus lottery system that angered employees
United Airlines on Monday reversed plans to begin awarding bonuses through a lottery system that angered employees.
Scott Kirby, president of the Chicago-based airline, said United was “pressing the pause button” on changes that would have handed out larger bonuses to only a fraction of its workers after hearing employees’ feedback since announcing the changes late last week.
Scott Kirby, president of the Chicago-based airline, said United was “pressing the pause button” on changes that would have handed out larger bonuses to only a fraction of its workers after hearing employees’ feedback since announcing the changes late last week.
Per Chicago Business Journal, 2 March 2018
United Airlines employees shocked: Bonuses replaced with lottery
United Airlines President Scott Kirby sent shock waves through the employee ranks at the Chicago-based airline today.
Kirby issued an employee memo in which he announced that the Chicago-based airline is dropping the quarterly performance bonuses the carrier had been giving out to all employees qualified to receive them.
Kirby said in the memo, obtained by the Chicago Business Journal, that the bonus payouts are being replaced with a new program called "core4 Score Rewards," which Kirby said would include quarterly prizes like cash ranging from $2,000 to $40,000, luxury cars, vacation packages, and a grand of prize of $100,000 awarded to one eligible employee per quarter.
Kirby issued an employee memo in which he announced that the Chicago-based airline is dropping the quarterly performance bonuses the carrier had been giving out to all employees qualified to receive them.
Kirby said in the memo, obtained by the Chicago Business Journal, that the bonus payouts are being replaced with a new program called "core4 Score Rewards," which Kirby said would include quarterly prizes like cash ranging from $2,000 to $40,000, luxury cars, vacation packages, and a grand of prize of $100,000 awarded to one eligible employee per quarter.
UA employees shocked: (qtrly performance) Bonuses replaced with lottery (on "pause")
Mar 5, 2018, 9:25 am
#151
Join Date: Feb 2008
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about as much as the person who posed above that this was obviously a master-stroke as United would have run a survey and found this was the way to go. 
If there is on thing that 2012-2018 has taught us about United in the Smisik-Kirby era, it is that UA just makes simplistic decisions w/o bothering to do the type of market research as to the impact their (usually short term cost cutting) decisions will have.
If there is on thing that 2012-2018 has taught us about United in the Smisik-Kirby era, it is that UA just makes simplistic decisions w/o bothering to do the type of market research as to the impact their (usually short term cost cutting) decisions will have.
Mar 5, 2018, 9:54 am
#152
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
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Mar 5, 2018, 10:27 am
#153
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
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Cannot speak for all national media, but this made news on Fox late this morning. My brother's MIL is a senior FA for UA, and very outspoken. I keep waiting for something from her on FB, but I know she is on vacation at the moment.
Mar 5, 2018, 10:59 am
#155
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
I betcha my CEO and Kirby know each other. When we were discussing how to recognize our employees for an outstanding year, someone brought up the $1000 bonuses. Thought the CEO was going to be ill. He suggested we hand out tee shirts instead. I said it would not be long before we saw tee shirts saying "The shareholders got a $45,000,000 kiss from the feds and all I got was this lousy tee shirt!"
Mar 5, 2018, 12:01 pm
#157
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Platinum Elite, National Executive, United Gold
Posts: 1,181
To add-on, Bloomberg is saying UAL will solicit feedback from employees before going out with a new incentive plan. If anything, glad to see this management team responds to criticism / negative feedback.
Mar 5, 2018, 12:08 pm
#158
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: Hyatt Globalist | Jumpseat Platinum
Posts: 546
There was an announcement up on the employee site about "pressing the pause button" as referenced in that tweet.
It disappeared for a bit, then came back slightly re-worded and via email (from Kirby) as well.
Props to them (for now), I guess...
It disappeared for a bit, then came back slightly re-worded and via email (from Kirby) as well.
Props to them (for now), I guess...
Mar 5, 2018, 12:40 pm
#162
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,613
UA employees aren't working on commission. Setting up a bonus system that fails to recognize that it takes the entire team for a flight to leave and arrive on time is counterproductive to UA stated goals for on time departure and arrival. Kirby's idea would be great if United sold cars on the lot, but they don't. It' a massively stupid idea that is going to undercut UA's performance across the board.
Mar 5, 2018, 12:46 pm
#163
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I wonder what’s going on with the executive team today. Kirby really messed up—and publicly too. His days should be numbered. He wasn’t offering the employees a bonus plan; he gave them an IQ test with predictable results.
Mar 5, 2018, 12:53 pm
#164
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chicago IL US
Programs: UA 1K; National Executive Elite; Hertz PC & Hotels Galore
Posts: 949
Nevermind. Kirby is walking back the plan after it blew it up his face. The Chicago Tribune this afternoon reports there will be no change.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-united-bonus-lottery-20180306-story.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-united-bonus-lottery-20180306-story.html
Mar 5, 2018, 12:57 pm
#165
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