DALLAS, July 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest
Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today was recognized for its
continued commitment to inclusion. The carrier was named a "Best
Place to Work for Disability Inclusion" after achieving a top score
on the 2021 Disability Equality Index® (DEI). The DEI is
the world's most comprehensive benchmarking tool for the Fortune
1000 and America's top 200 revenue grossing law firms (Am Law 200)
to measure disability workplace inclusion.
"Southwest Airlines was founded on the principle of putting
People first," said Julie
Weber, Southwest Airlines' Vice President and Chief
People Officer. "We believe in providing our Employees an inclusive
and welcoming environment, valuing them for their unique skills,
perspectives, and abilities they bring. By doing our best as an
employer, we create an environment where our People can do their
best."
Globally, people with disabilities number over one billion,
crossing lines of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race,
sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and religion.
The DEI was launched in 2015 by Disability:IN® and
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and is
acknowledged today as the most robust disability inclusion
assessment tool in business. In 2021, out of 319 participants, 191
companies received a score of 100; 58 companies received a score of
90, and 23 companies received a score of 80.
Southwest Airlines is proud to receive a score of 100 on the
2021 DEI and is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace for
its Employees. To learn more about career opportunities at
Southwest, visit Southwest® Careers.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 51st year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines
Co. continues to differentiate itself from other air
carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than
56,000 Employees to a Customer base that topped 130 million
Passengers in 2019. Southwest has a robust network of
point-to-point service with a strong presence across top leisure
and business markets. In peak travel seasons during 2019, Southwest
operated more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 101
destinations in the United States
and 10 additional countries. In 2020, the carrier added service to
Hilo, Hawaii; Cozumel, Mexico; Miami; Palm Springs,
Calif.; Steamboat Springs; and Montrose (Telluride), Colo. Thus far in 2021,
Southwest has initiated service to Chicago (O'Hare) and Sarasota/Bradenton both on Feb.
14; Savannah/Hilton Head and
Colorado Springs both on March 11;
Houston (Bush) and Santa Barbara, Calif. both on April 12; Fresno,
Calif. on April
25; Destin/Fort Walton Beach on May 6; Myrtle Beach,
S.C. on May 23; Bozeman, Mont. on May
27; and Jackson, Miss. on June 6; and will begin
service to Eugene, Ore. on
Aug. 29; Bellingham, Wash. on Nov. 7; and Syracuse on Nov. 14.
The carrier issued its Southwest® Promise in May 2020 to highlight new and round-the-clock
efforts to support its Customers and Employees well-being and
comfort. Among the changes are enhanced cleaning efforts at
airports and onboard aircraft, along with a federal mandate
requiring every person to wear a mask at all times throughout each
flight. Additional details about the Southwest Promise are
available at Southwest.com/Promise.
Southwest coined Transfarency® to describe its purposed
philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and low fares
actually staying low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to
offer bags fly free® to everyone (first and second
checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some
carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in qualified
circumstances). Southwest does not charge change fees, though fare
differences might apply.
Consistently ranked among the best Employers in the United States, Southwest focuses its
effort on a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the
carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of its
People and the communities they service, and an overall commitment
to the efficiency and the planet. Learn more about the carrier
gives back to communities across the world by
visiting Southwest.com/citizenship.
Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online
at Southwest.com or by phone at
800-I-FLY-SWA®.
ABOUT THE DISABILITY EQUALITY INDEX (DEI)
The Disability Equality Index (DEI) is a comprehensive benchmarking
tool that helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible
actions that they can take to achieve disability inclusion and
equality. Each company receives a score, on a scale of zero (0) to
100, with those earning 80 and above recognized as a "Best Place to
Work for Disability Inclusion."
The DEI is a joint initiative of the American Association of
People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation's largest disability
rights organization, and Disability:IN, the global business
disability inclusion network, to collectively advance the inclusion
of people with disabilities. The organizations are complementary
and bring unique strengths that make the project relevant and
credible to corporations and the disability community. The tool was
developed by the DEI Advisory Committee, a diverse group of
business leaders, policy experts, and disability advocates. Learn
more at www.DisabilityEqualityIndex.org.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
(AAPD)
AAPD is a convener, connector, and catalyst for
change, increasing the political and economic power for people with
disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization
AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the 50+ million Americans
with disabilities. Learn more at www.aapd.com.
ABOUT DISABILITY:IN®
Disability:IN is a global
organization driving disability inclusion and equality in business.
More than 270 corporations trust Disability:IN to activate and
achieve disability inclusion across their enterprise and in the
broader corporate mainstream. Through the world's most
comprehensive disability inclusion benchmarking; best-in-class
conferences and programs; and expert counsel and engagement,
Disability:IN works with leading businesses to create long-term
business and societal impact. Join us at disabilityin.org/AreYouIN
#AreYouIN.
View original
content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southwest-airlines-recognized-as-a-best-place-to-work-for-disability-inclusion-301333044.html
SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.