United shines at woman's darkest time
By Al Lewis
Denver Post Staff Columnist
Article Last Updated: 04/30/2007 10:59:10 PM MDT


Today, I'd like to tell you about a company that cares.

United Airlines.

United says it's setting up a foundation to help employees with "dire medical situations" but exhausted health benefits.

This announcement comes on the heels of a column I wrote last Tuesday featuring former United Airlines flight attendant Jo Reinhardt.

Reinhardt, 45, worked 18 years for United until she got Lou Gehrig's disease.

Now, she's paralyzed from the neck down and breathes with a respirator.

She can't open the emergency doors of a plane anymore. But she's able to take phone calls. And April 17, a United human resources executive called to tell her that she was fired.

"It was more difficult getting that phone call than it was to hear that I had Lou Gehrig's disease," she said.

Reinhardt, who lives in Indianola, Wash., had been on disability leave for three years. She had hoped United would extend this leave, or offer her early retirement, or come up with some other way for her to continue her medical benefits.

"A loyal and dedicated employee, at a very difficult time in their life, should not have to go through being fired and the mental anguish that causes," she said.

Reinhardt's termination came on the same day a House subcommittee heard testimony about executive compensation at companies that had filed bankruptcy.

United's union flight attendants used the forum to lament the cuts they suffered so their employer could emerge from bankruptcy. They also bemoaned how well-paid United's executives became once the airline came out. United CEO Glenn Tilton, for instance, received $23.8 million in compensation in 2006.

It's always better to be the boss. Once fired, Reinhardt and her husband, Rod ger, were left to wonder how they would afford COBRA, a plan that allows severed employees to continue their medical benefits for a limited period.

Now, United says it is setting up a foundation to pay Reinhardt's COBRA.

"As we looked for ways to help Jo Reinhardt, it was clear that in extreme cases such as hers, we were not able to provide the help she needed under our benefit plans," said spokeswoman Jean Medina.

"To assist employees in situations such as Jo's, United is establishing an independent foundation to benefit employees after they have exhausted other benefits," Medina said. "The foundation will be able to look on a case-by-case basis at the circumstances of employees who are facing dire medical situations and provide assistance as appropriate."

United has 55,000 employees, so I'm guessing the fund could help scores of needy people. Reinhardt, however, said she has not received anything in writing nor heard details of the plan. Neither has the Association of Flight Attendants- CWA, which is cautiously praising United for addressing Reinhardt's plight.

"The announcement of the foundation is a positive step," association spokeswoman Sara Nelson said. "We look forward to more details about the assistance it will provide."

Paid COBRA benefits will give Reinhardt another 18 to 29 months of insurance benefits.

When Reinhardt was diagnosed in 2003, she was told she only had months to live. Now, all bets are off. "I don't bet on Jo or horses," Rodger Reinhardt said.

She had just given birth to their son, Jacob, when she learned of her illness. Her determination as a mother has helped keep her going, Rodger said.

When I called Reinhardt on Monday, she was still wrestling with the news.

"It's very, very generous," she said. "It's more than they have to do, legally. ... But the only reason they are doing this is because they are embarrassed.

"Really, what has changed for anyone at this company who might become catastrophically ill?" she asked. "You're still dealing with a time limit. You still have to die within that time frame, because, by God, if you don't, you're screwed."

What's a corporation to do?

At least for Reinhardt, it's another 18 to 29 months of insurance. When you live one day at a time, that can be a long time.

So I say United is a company that cares - at least for a little while longer.

P.S.: Thanks to readers who said they were sending Reinhardt a donation.

Al Lewis' column appears Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Respond to Lewis at denverpostbloghouse.com/lewis.