JetBlue Reaffirms its Investment in Crewmembers with Focus on Increasing Access, Equity and Diversity
February 23 2021 - 10:52AM
Business Wire
-- New Internal Development Programs Will Help
Remove Barriers and Create Pathways to Corporate Services Roles and
Careers as Pilots or Aircraft Maintenance Technicians --
JetBlue (Nasdaq: JBLU) today announced plans to launch new
internal career development programs that reaffirm its commitment
to crewmembers and support its diversity, equity and inclusion
(DEI) strategy. These new pathways focus on creating greater access
to select career paths, fostering equity by removing barriers to
entry and increasing representation in senior leadership.
JetBlue is launching two new development programs focused on
three career trajectories: 1) a new pathway from frontline
operational jobs to corporate services roles, and 2) opportunities
for crewmembers to pursue careers as pilots or aircraft maintenance
technicians.
The pathway from the operation to corporate services is designed
to help nurture, develop and grow future leaders. This path will
include hands-on experience including a mix of classroom learning
and support, and two rotational job placements, based on business
need, with job placement assistance upon completion of the
program.
The pilot and aircraft maintenance technician gateway programs
will alleviate some of the known barriers to entry for these
careers such as financing and fears of leaving a permanent job,
while adding some certainty and a defined pathway to the
process.
“We created these initiatives because at JetBlue our crewmembers
and culture are key to our success,” said Mike Elliott, chief
people officer, JetBlue. “Our new initiatives will help remove some
of the barriers candidates may face so we can better help talent
continue to grow. Realizing we don’t all start from the same place,
equity and accessibility are at the center of our new crewmember
development efforts. These new programs will help us build a more
diverse internal pipeline.”
These pathways join JetBlue’s other development programs like
JetBlue Scholars, its employer-sponsored college degree program,
and its Gateway Select pilot training initiative, which have proven
valuable for crewmember growth.
JetBlue’s evolved DEI strategy – Increasing representation in
senior leadership
Crewmember feedback was part of the impetus for JetBlue to
reexamine and evolve its DEI strategy, which now concentrates on
three areas: people, sourcing and brand. JetBlue’s DEI strategy
includes an investment in crewmembers’ development, retention and
growth like the two pathways programs, as well as long-term efforts
to engage and work with minority and women owned businesses (MWBE),
and more.
JetBlue’s goal is to reflect the diverse communities and
cultures it serves in all aspects of our airline. While JetBlue is
a fairly diverse organization overall, this representation
decreases significantly in corporate services and is even less in
senior leadership roles. As a result, JetBlue is making a
significant commitment to diversity its leadership, including:
- Doubling its race and ethnic minority representation at the
officer and director level, from 12.5 percent today to 25 percent
by the end of 2025
- Increasing its representation of women at the officer and
director level, from 32 percent today to 40 percent by the end of
2025
“Diversity affects our ability to attract and retain top talent,
while a more inclusive workplace drives better decision-making and
innovation. Our greatest area of improvement is within our officer
and director positions where the racial and ethnic composition has
remained limited in growth. We can do better. With these
commitments, and new programs we’re cultivating a more diverse
workforce and charting a path to meet these objectives for both our
crewmembers’ development as well as business’ success,” Elliott
continued.
Additional information about JetBlue’s DEI efforts can be found
in its latest social impact report.
About JetBlue Airways
JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline®, and a leading carrier
in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles, Orlando, and San
Juan. JetBlue carries customers across the U.S., Caribbean, and
Latin America. For more information, visit jetblue.com.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210223005837/en/
Media: JetBlue Corporate Communications Tel: +1 718 709
3089 corpcomm@jetblue.com
JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ:JBLU)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ:JBLU)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024