American Airlines has said it will have to lay off as many as 25,000 workers or nearly 20% of its workforce after Oct. 1. United Airlines is following suit with up to 36,000 job cuts due to the coronavirus pandemic. Southwest Airlines is going a different route by offering extended leave and exit packages to its employees. Nearly 30% of its workforce had taken the deals as of July 20.
Contractors that do business on their airplanes have already been laying off workers. In fact, many companies laid off employees and then took bailout funds from the Paycheck Protection Program, prompting questions about what they’re doing with all those funds, which are based on last year’s payroll, after they have already let workers go.
In addition to airlines and their contractors, ride-sharing giants Uber and Lyft and hotel chains Hilton and Marriott have announced furloughs.
Retailers
Numerous retailers have also been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic with many being forced to close their stores temporarily. However, many of those temporary closures are becoming permanent.
