Delta pilots on ascending escalator
People

Employee Engagement

We believe that when we invest in our people to authentically foster a great workplace culture, they will go the extra mile and deliver welcoming, elevated and caring customer service.

DELTA CULTURE PROGRAMS

We build a culture of engagement through a wide range of programs including:

B-DAY

Half-day onboarding experience for new hires to learn about Delta’s business, brand, culture and history while connecting with fellow team members


13K+ 1

Employees engaged in 2023

  1. Not all new employees are able to participate in B-DAY. Frontline and Merit employees in Atlanta as well as several outstations engaged in the program in 2023

Executive Station Visits

Town hall-style listening and feedback sessions where senior leaders have candid conversations with frontline employees
(Re-launched in 2023)

  • 20K+

    Employees engaged in 2023

  • 43

    Executive leaders participated

  • 103

    Visits to 47 stations

VELVET

Two-day engagement and career development sessions, each kicked off by our Chief Executive Officer, where frontline employees gain clarity on how their roles support Delta’s business strategy and interact with leaders from across the company.
These sessions are open to all frontline employees.

  • ~9 500

    Employees engaged in 2023

  • 14

    Sessions

    (up from 8 in 2022)

  • 4,8/5

    Overall satisfaction score

Business Resource Groups (BRGs)

With nearly 19 000 members, our 12 BRGs provide networking, development and career growth opportunities. These employee-led networks provide valuable insights to the business on diversity-related strategies, programs and topics.


19 %

Of Delta employees belong to a BRG


Engagement Surveys

We routinely survey our people to measure engagement, identify opportunities for growth and drive change. For example, Delta’s Emergency Savings Program, launched in 2023 (see Employee Wellness), was developed in response to employee feedback in 2022 that financial health was top of mind. More than 42 000 employees participated in two company-wide engagement surveys in 2023, offering feedback on a range of topics including job satisfaction, organizational commitment, sense of belonging and motivation. Our average engagement score for 2023 was 80 (on a 100-point scale), a one-point increase over 2022, and four points higher than the U.S. industry benchmark.

In 2023, we introduced the Deltaversary Survey, a five-question email sent to employees on their service anniversary dates. These quick “pulse checks” complement our biannual engagement surveys, giving us a full 12 months of employee data on topics ranging from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) to safety.

Employee feedback fuels our investments in our people and informs our programs and policies, giving senior leaders actionable insights. Employee engagement survey responses are confidential and leaders receive aggregated survey results for their teams. The Delta Board Council relays employee concerns, perspectives and suggestions directly to our executives and Board of Directors.


150K

Comments provided by 81% of engagement survey participants

(highest ever)


80

Average engagement score for the 2023 surveys

(out of a 100-point scale)

OUR BRG s INCLUDE:

  • ABLE – Disability BRG
  • ADELANTE – Latin America and Hispanic BRG
  • BOLD – Black Community BRG
  • DESI – South Asia BRG
  • EQUAL – LGBTQ+ BRG
  • FUSION – Asian Pacific BRG
  • GENGAGE – Multigenerational Workforce BRG
  • GREEN UP – Sustainability BRG
  • SHE – Women’s BRG
  • VETERANS – Veterans and Armed Forces BRG
  • WORKING FAMILIES – Working Parents and/or Caregivers BRG
  • YALLAH – Middle East and North Africa BRG

Our people are our most worthy investment. We believe in a virtuous circle: When we take the best care of our people, our people will take the best care of our customers – who will then continue to make Delta their airline of choice.”

Joanne Smith Executive Vice President (EVP) and Chief People Officer

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION

We celebrate and reward the contributions of our people, while fostering deep engagement, through three core programs:

Chairman’s Club

Extraordinary people deserve extraordinary recognition. Delta’s premier annual global recognition program honors 100 employees who continuously demonstrate our core values and embody “the spirit of Delta.” Following a competitive nomination and selection process, the honorees are recognized and celebrated with their families and peers at a red-carpet event and black-tie gala. The program impacts or reaches 17 000 employees between nominators, nominees and leaders recognizing their people.


8 195

Nominees in 2023

Delta Leadership Excellence Award

New in 2024, the Delta Leadership Excellence Award is bestowed upon divisionally selected operational leaders who are driving our culture and working to increase frontline team members’ engagement and performance. This award recognizes the servant leadership of selected operational leaders and their dedication to creating a thriving frontline workforce.

Unstoppable Together

This recognition program allows employees to recognize each other and provides managers with Delta Difference points that can be redeemed for miles in the SkyMiles program, gift cards and more.


399 815

Recognitions in 2023