mtsu_av8er
Well-Known Member
I NEVER abuse the system. I can't help it if I happen to catch a cold every 3 months.
I NEVER abuse the system. I can't help it if I happen to catch a cold every 3 months.
damn changing of the seasons.... :rotfl:
kellwolf
Piece of Trash
There was a RASH of sick people across the US back in December. Me being one of them. Dough, Martin and I were laughing on FB because we were ALL down sick with some kind of bug. 9E's response was a memo that said something along the lines of "Due to an uptick in unplanned absences, we will be requiring a doctor's note for all sick calls between now and Jan 7th." They're very quick on the "Darn pilots just don't wanna come to work" wagon. Nevermind the fact all you really need is rest, some chicken soup and sleep. They won't believe it unless you go to the doctor, even if you've never called in sick to work before. Just remember to get a receipt from the doctor for your co-pay. Contract says the company has to reimburse us for any required doctor visits.....
Hootie
Old Skool
Jeepers. What if you have eight Doctors notes? Can they still fire you?
kellwolf
Piece of Trash
Here at 9E.....maybe. You'll still be on the discipline train. They technically can't fire you for not flying sick since that would be essentially saying that you have to violate a FAR to keep your job. They'll be pushing FMLA like a corner crack dealer, though.
GATechKid said:
Another example of how TSA varies from place to place. We have to be veridfied using company IDs before going to the airplane even though our SIDA badges will let us down.
ctab5060X
Well-Known Member
I was talking with a scheduler about a week before Christmas while they were working on fixing a deadhead issue and they were saying how the number of sick calls due to the holiday had them in a major bind. This just happened to be the same week that a major cold front moved through all the hubs and the temps went from warm to below freezing and back to semi-warm in about a 4 day period. That couldn't have had any effect on the sick calls at all. Besides... who calls in sick for Christmas a week in advance?
SlumTodd_Millionaire
Most Hated Member
Actually, they can. Several airlines have gotten away with discharging pilots for what they considered to be "excessive" sick calls. Arbitrators and the FAA haven't cared. The airline just has to be really on their game with documenting everything.
kellwolf
Piece of Trash
Fabulous. 'Cause I'm starting the thing that 9E's definition of "excessive" is somewhere around 4 or 5 in 12 months. You can bring all the doctor's notes you want, but they'll still hang you out to dry.....unless you file for FMLA, and then they're okay with it. Makes little to no sense to me. Push FMLA on every pilot that calls in sick twice, then put ONE PERSON with little to no training on it handle FMLA for the entire airline, THEN start "denying" FMLA for illegal reasons.
wheelsup
Well-Known Member
It's been my experience that calling in sick or waking up late every now and then really isn't the end of the world as long as you don't always put your name out there to be heard. I have called in sick over holidays (legit) and even had PS tickets back to domicile and we non-revved the day before because we were both sick. I have also woken up late, and made a flight push 2 mins late because I looked at my departure time instead of show time and planned for that time. Like I said don't make it a habit and according to the union here no one has ever been fired for calling in sick at my company. The guys that call in sick all the time, or over holidays repeatedly, or at the beginning or end of vacation, or just don't show up for trips need to worry, and they are few and far between.
The company might want the senior guys gone but for the junior guys like me it would take them years to recoup the additional training costs of firing me so I don't think it is in anyone's best interests unless it is warranted.
The company might want the senior guys gone but for the junior guys like me it would take them years to recoup the additional training costs of firing me so I don't think it is in anyone's best interests unless it is warranted.
Hootie
Old Skool
That's why I get a Doctors note every time I have to call in sick. I'm pretty sure the average adult male gets sick 2-4 times a year.
ClearedForOption
Displaced... again.
Yep - I still had my ORD ID. The wild thing was that the gate agent remembered checking 'my airline ID' not my 'ORD ID' when I went up to see if I happened to lose it around the release printer @ the gate. (She thought my ID had to be on the plane somewhere... even though I combed it top to bottom)
R
Roger, Roger
Guest
The end of the story is, the termination was appealed and overturned. Don't know if it was compassion or if the termination violated written company policy. Either way, glad it turned out the way it did.