I do not want the guy sitting next to me unfocused on the tasks at hand. If his mind is a million miles away and we are fighting alligators on the flight deck, I do not want him there because he is useless to me. Besides, doesn't everybody now have to sign the release saying they are fit for duty? Mental fitness is included in that. You can be a stock broker and have these issues (although I wouldn't necessarily be happy with the results), but not in aviation.

I still maintain that this whole issue is forefront because it is nearly impossible to get a day off once your schedule has been assigned. That is the problem which needs fixing. Short staffed reserves allow for NO ONE, all the way to the number one guy in category to drop trips. That affects everybody. Fix that, and "abusive" sick calls will drop dramatically imho.