United CEO Pledges Support To Employees Who Have Served In The Military
(CBS) -- One big Chicago company is making a promise to its employees who served or are still serving in the military.
United Airlines calls the pledge a thank you to its veterans.
CBS 2's Jim Williams reports one United executive knows firsthand the value of military service.
Mike Ellis has the big corporate job and a corner office. But 20 years ago, the Libertyville native was an active-duty Marine.
As a result of that experience, "I live a very structured, disciplined life," he says.
Those traits, sharpened in the military, helped him become Vice President of Human Relations for United Airlines.
As veterans return to civilian life -- many having seen combat -- Ellis wants to make sure at United they have support to make what can be a challenging adjustment.
"Whether they're working a ramp job out at O'Hare at the airport or they're a financial analyst here at headquarters, they really need an ecosystem and a team wrapped around them," he says.
At United headquarters, the airline's CEO signed a pledge Monday backing that commitment. Jeff Smisek says it's good business.
"We need people who understand pressure and how to function under pressure, who have been trained, who are disciplined, who are thoughtful, who are natural leaders," he says.
Ellis says United has veterans in every department of the company -- thousands of men and women.
One hundred and fifty veterans and active duty employees were at Monday's signing ceremony.
