ReadyRsv

Check your CCS...

I just read the whole document on SkyNet. Nothing about Drs notes etc. Just if you are sick too often you are going to get in 'trouble'

WhisperJet

I understand that there's a fine line between managing legit absences and cracking down on those who abuse sick leave, but we fly schedules that mess with our sleep cycles, in environments that are loaded with germs, and back and forth across different climates that promote colds. We preflight in the rain, then sit in a cold cockpit breathing recirculated air. We sit next to coughing passengers on deadheads. Many of us have kids who bring crud home from daycare/school and make us sick. We're supposed to be at the top of our physical game every flight yet we can only be sick a few times a year without getting in trouble??

cadetdrivr

For all these reasons, this is nothing more than intimidation (aka pilot pushing) and we now have a few thousand new pilots on property that have not seen this show before. (At least not the UA version.)

When sick, don't come to work. Period.

And don't forget, there is pilot contract in force with several decades of "past practice." Can't think of any pilot offhand that has ever experienced serious discipline for one too many sick calls.

When push comes to shove, here's how the conversation goes:
That said, I know one pilot who who made the front page of the paper (back when those were a thing) in a spectacular racing boat accident while "sick." That one was harder to explain.

krudawg

Don't spend a second of your time worrying about calling in sick. If you are sick, please don't come in to fly; your fellow crew members greatly appreciate it. The sick leave management policy is nothing more than guidelines for management to take notice of serial sick leave abusers. Flight Managers are well aware of the exposures to illness we as flight crew members face and in my personal experience, rarely call to counsel about sick calls.

Airhoss

At 5 you get the call at 6 you get placed on absence management at 7 you get a stern talking to at 8 you get placed on double secret probation.

The problem with all this AMS BS is that it precludes the use of common sense. A few years ago I had a severe injury to an elbow. Long story short it took 4 separate surgeries to fix.

Each time I went into surgery I talked to the flight office, they were fully aware. Each time I came back I had to get a medical clearance. Once again the flight office was fully aware. BUT I miss calculated after one of the surgeries and came back early then had to call in sick again. So that made 5 calls in a 12 month period.

The very SAME person from the flight office whom I had been communicating with gave me the dreaded #5 bad boy AMS call. "Hi this is _____________ from the Denver flight office we are just calling to see if everything is okay. We've noticed that you've called in sick 5 times in the last 8 months....I asked if she was on drugs? You know EXACTLY why I've called in sick we have had in depth conversations about it! "It doesn't matter I'm required to call you regarding AMS....."

Freaktards!!!

Moral of the story, don't tell them shizzle about dizzle, if they contact you let your union re deal with them. They are not your buddy, they are not on your side. Your medical issues are none of their business. If you need to call in sick call in sick.

AllenAllert

Coming out of TK, this is probable the best advise he's ever given. Heed it and if any doubt call your ALPA rep and let them intervene.

Dave Fitzgerald

Everyone here has short memories. This is the annual intimidation letter before summer starts.

They are afraid they don't have enough pilots to fly the schedule, so they try to intimidate everyone into not calling in sick.

Also remember, those of us that live in CA, you also have to option to call in "California sick." By law that cannot be used in any sick leave counseling scam. You have to call the crew desk to do this and can't do it via CCS.

APC225

Well, at least we're not alone.

"A report released Thursday by a workers’ advocacy group says Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, routinely refuses to accept doctors’ notes, penalizes workers who need to take care of a sick family member and otherwise punishes employees for lawful absences."

fanaticalflyer

Exactly Dave. And if i'm correct, when on CASL, the CPO CANNOT even call you to inquire about the CASL under any circumstances or it's an attorney general complaint. I'm going to actually getting clarification on that from the CA dept that handles this.

worstpilotever

Can one use travel benefits or Jumpseat after calling in sick? CA sick?