United employees at DIA reported becoming ill after eating a holiday meal

DENVER — United Airlines said it is “monitoring reports” after dozens of employees at Denver International Airport reportedly fell ill after eating a company-provided meal on Christmas Day.

According to a letter from the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), Council 9, which represents Denver and Phoenix, “received numerous reports of members who may have become ill” after eating this holiday meal in Denver on Wednesday.

According to the AFA, 492 holiday meals were served to flight attendants and 24 people reported symptoms “consistent with those of food poisoning.”

Association of Flight Attendants

The AFA previously assumed that around “200 employees” would be affected. However, in its update, the AFA adjusted that number to 24, “far fewer than our original estimate of those affected and which we reported on in last night’s newsletter.”

Denver7 spoke with a flight attendant who did not want to reveal his identity for fear of retaliation. The employee said he felt sick and suffered from nausea and diarrhea shortly after eating the plate.

Decency

He said employees must scan their ID to eat a meal. The flight attendant told Denver7 that many of his colleagues who ate the food also felt sick afterwards.

According to the employee, United Airlines has a strict policy when it comes to calling in sick during the holidays.

According to reports, the company requires its employees to submit a special medical certificate (vacation absence certificate), which must be completed within 48 hours. The employee said those who fail to do so could face consequences such as “performance warnings.”

The employee said that’s why several flight attendants he knew went to work even though they felt sick.

Decency

In its update, the AFA said that potentially affected employees would not be required to provide a holiday absence certificate in these circumstances.

A United Airlines spokesperson issued the following statement: “United is monitoring reports from some employees of gastrointestinal distress following holiday meals served to employees in Denver on Wednesday, and we are in contact with health authorities. There was no impact on our operations.”