Yes - It's called the "prudent judgement policy" because the union wanted to protect the pilot who lives in COS, and has their transmission die on the way to the airport as well as the one who can't get out of BFE on a jumpseat.

If you commute by air you have to realistically schedule yourself (a big definition of on-line vs off-line etc.) with at least 2 options that get you into position at least 1 hour before report and in a rested / able to do your job without being fatigued state.

If you can't make it to work you just call screw scheduling, and tell them. You have the credits removed from your schedule that you can't fly, but aren't subject to any discipline. Calling in sick just before show WILL get you on the Chief Pilot's radar quickly, but if you've got a legitimate reason - it is what it is. When the Chief Pilot sees that a pilot's sick bank all of a sudden starts dropping like a rock when they begin to commute to another domicile they may get a call. I don't think it's unreasonable for them to ask what changed. HIPA etc. keeps you from having to give specifics, but remember - the Chief Pilot(s) were all line pilots too, and know the deal. Commuters tend to carry fewer days in their sick bank than non-commuters. It's a generalization, but a fact. Don't be foolish, and you shouldn't have a problem.

I haven't heard of anyone being hassled over using the prudent judgement policy when they actually needed it. It hasn't happened all that much in the past, but now that we aren't all in DEN I expect the policy will get a workout and experience some growing pains - just like everything else here.

We had one guy get stuck off the coast of Central America on a fishing charter when a hurricane cut him off from port, keeping them at sea. He called the Nicaraguan Coast Guard / Navy, and had them call scheduling for him! Scheduling actually gave him grief because you "have to make the call yourself". When he made it back, the Chief Pilot just thanked him for letting them know, and it now just makes for a good story :-)