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- Southwest Airlines will give pilots and flight attendants DoorDash memberships starting October 12.
- The US is currently experiencing a labor shortage, caused by numerous political and social factors.
- Some workers, including flight attendants, told Insider they have quit due to on-the-job abuse.
Southwest Airlines is giving flight attendants and pilots a six-month DoorDash subscription that will cover delivery fees and reduce service fees for purchases, The Dallas Morning News reported.
The airline is offering the DoorDash subscription as workers contend with staffing issues at airports, hotels, and restaurants, where flight attendants and pilots typically eat during layovers. Southwest will roll out the perk starting October 12.
The Southwest Airlines' flight attendant union, TWU Local 556, has also said hotels have been slow to process room reservations for some workers, according to The Dallas Morning News.
The US is currently experiencing a labor shortage, caused by an array of political and social factors like the lack of affordable childcare and low pay. Though many chains have raised prices to attract staff, 85% of small restaurants across the US say it's still very difficult to find staff.
The bonus could also help Southwest increase its own staff. American Airlines, Spirit, and Delta had to cancel some flights this summer because of unavailable flight crews. The Dallas Morning News reported Southwest is ramping up hiring at key airports.
Flight attendants previously told Insider they were contemplating quitting due to a rise in harassment and abuse on commercial aircrafts. Crews have been punched, spat on, and screamed at by air travelers, many of whom were intoxicated or refused to follow federal mask-wearing guidelines.
Flight attendants aren't the only American workers quitting their jobs due to burnout and abuse. Retail workers told Insider's Áine Cain they were "rage quitting" after months of dealing with anti-mask, and sometimes violent, customers.
Southwest Airlines declined to comment on this story.