I think a lot of the sick leave usage results from the decreased flexibility that the DAL pilot has seen in recent years. Our vacation bank pays so little, that in a typical vacation month with a week off a pilot might see a day or two less work, but with more unproductive trips.. and the rest of the months flying crammed into the remaining days. The odds of even getting a week you need is slim, and with the AE process, the chances are you'll lose it anyway. We used to have Authorized Leave, sort of like the APD except you got paid.
The end result being you can't get the time off you need for vacations, weddings, graduations, reunions etc... If you do manage to get a week you need, the rest of the month is unflyable unless you live alone in a trailer in the employee lot. Any system that allows a REAL vacation which is inviolate and a sick bank that pays out the unused balance and 4 days paid APD would probably solve a majority of the issues. For now, I have no sympathy for the companies self induced problem. I'm sure there are a few senior Capts that view the sick leave bank as a goal rather than a limit, and why shouldn't they? They are leaving soon anyhow and this is their last contract, and there is no incentive for them to work to the max... Like FAE used to provide. Many of them are in the process of launching new careers, to replace the lost income and pensions.
My advice would be to make this a job that pays better than the alternative, and provide for time off that is truly PAID and can't be lost. Otherwise, plan on paying out sick leave. BTW, we are not the only dept. at DL that has sick leave issues...
