School Remains Open As An 'Essential Business'

Like much of the country, North Carolina is under a statewide "stay at home" order due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But one flight school operating at Raleigh-Durham International Airport continues to operate, and its CEO has told employees they had better not complain.

Television station WRAL reports that it obtained an internal email in which Blue Line Aviation CEO Trey Walters warns employees that if they complain to authorities about the school being open during the pandemic, they will be terminated. Walters said that if the school is closed, no one will be paid.

Walters said that any employee who is uncomfortable working during the pandemic can voluntarily resign, and he would be happy to write a letter of recommendation for them to use in their job search. But "if I find out the harder way, you will be terminated," he said in the email.

He also offered a $500 bonus to anyone who could offer proof about an employee who complained.

The flight school has been designated an "essential business" under the stay-at-home order. Walters declined an interview request from the station, but said in a statement that the "safety and well-being of our employees is a priority, and quite frankly, we couldn't run our business without them."

FMI: Source report