Boeing Co will halt production at its Washington state factory for two weeks due to risks from coronavirus.
The company announced on Monday that the temporary operations shutdown at its twin-aisle jetliner factory in Seattle would begin from March 25 and last 14 days.
The shut down will include a deep clean of its buildings and equipment.
Boeing, which employs some 70,000 people in Seattle’s Puget Sound area, has more than dozen confirmed coronavirus cases among employees. One worker has died from the coronavirus, according to a friend’s Facebook tribute.
The fast-spreading coronavirus has disrupted life across the United States, hammering the economy and virtually wiping out air travel demand.
It has also compounded a crisis over the year-old grounding of Boeing’s best-selling 737 MAX jetliner after fatal crashes.
Boeing announced on Monday that the temporary operations shutdown at its twin-aisle jetliner factory in Seattle would begin from March 25 and last 14 days
Boeing Chief Executive Officer Dave Calhoun said in a statement accompanying the announcement that the planemaker was working closely with public health officials, customers, suppliers and others affected by the temporary suspension.
‘We regret the difficulty this will cause them, as well as our employees, but it’s vital to maintain health and safety for all those who support our products and services, and to assist in the national effort to combat the spread of COVID-19,’ Calhoun said.
Boeing already instructed many employees to work from home. It said factory and other workers unable to work remotely would receive 10 days paid leave during the planned suspension period.
Boeing said last week it was seeking $60 billion in ‘public and private liquidity’ for the aerospace industry, which is struggling amid a COVID-19 outbreak that has halted major travel and shuttered many businesses.
The Trump administration has said it would back Boeing, which is also a top U.S. defense contractor. Former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley resigned from Boeing’s board last week after opposing the proposed $60billion bailout for the airline industry.
Boeing is among the companies whose stocks are tumbling amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The company said last week it was freezing hiring and industry sources have said layoffs or furloughs are likely as virus concerns peak.
The shut down will include a deep clean of its buildings and equipment. Boeing, which employs some 70,000 people in Seattle’s Puget Sound area, has more than dozen confirmed coronavirus cases among employees
Drugstore chain CVS said on Monday it was hiring 50,000 employees across the United States to assist patients and customers with the coronavirus outbreak
CVS, Dollar General and Papa Johns among the later to announce hiring binges
The spread of the virus has created a massive disruption in the work place with many companies sending workers home. However, other companies, largely those considered essential during the outbreak, have gone on a hiring binge.
Drugstore chain CVS said on Monday it was hiring 50,000 employees across the United States to assist patients and customers with the coronavirus outbreak.
The new hires will include full-time, part-time and temporary roles. Positions include store associates, prescription delivery drivers, distribution center employees and member/customer service professionals.
CVS said it would provide bonuses ranging from $150 to $500 to employees who are required to be at CVS facilities to assist customers during the pandemic.
‘Our colleagues have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to providing essential goods and services at a time when they’re needed most,’ CVS CEO Larry Merlo said.
‘As they continue to be there for the individuals and families we serve, we’re taking extra steps to provide some peace of mind and help them navigate these uncertain times.’
Last week, the company said it was opening a COVID-19 testing site for a limited population in the parking lot of a CVS pharmacy in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts.
Dollar General will hire up to 50,000 workers by the end of April as people ordered to stay home clear the bargain chain’s shelves and stock up pantries. Dollar General said Monday that most of the jobs will be temporary but that some may be long term.
Papa John’s is also hiring up to 20,000 people with demand for pizza elevated. The need for new workers is so great, the company said on Monday, that interviews can turn into punching the clock on the same day. Domino’s already announced additional hiring.
Aircraft manufacturers and hotel industry struggle to cope amid coronavirus
The rapid spread of the coronavirus since it was first reported in China has dealt an unprecedented shock to the global economy. As governments attempt to stabilize their economies, companies are struggling to cope and millions of people are facing job losses and disruptions in supplies of goods and in services.
GE aviation has plans to cut about 10 percent of its U.S. workforce. David Joyce, vice chairman of GE and CEO of GE Aviation, will give up half of his salary starting April 1.
The aviation arm of General Electric also said that there will be a temporary lack of work impacting approximately 50 percent of its US maintenance, repair and overhaul employees for 90 days.
GE Aviation had already announced a hiring freeze, the cancellation of a salaried merit increase, a dramatic reduction of all non-essential spending, and a significant decrease in its contingent workforce.
The hotel industry is predicting that about 44 percent of all hotel employees in the United States could lose their jobs as a result of the outbreak.
The American Hotel and Lodging Association says four million jobs have been eliminated already or are on the verge of being cut within the next few weeks.
In certain cities, including Seattle, San Francisco, Austin and Boston, hotel occupancy rates have already dropped below 20 percent and some hotels and major operators have already shut down operations.