My experience was similar to crewdawg's. During probationary chief pilot meetings the CPs say that if you're sick then call in sick. The problem is they bring this topic up every meeting and talk far longer about sick call than anything else. It sends a mixed message.

It was enough for me to not call in sick while I was on probation. That said, I finally did call in sick shortly after getting off probation and scheduling was very professional, and I got nothing more than an automated email from the chief pilot office. Done and easy.

I don't blame guys on probation for not calling in sick, they really are receiving a mixed message. I then saw proof of the mixed message when signing in at ATL the other day. Obviously sick captain hacking away walks up to another captain and introduces himself as his LCA for an OE trip and claiming he's "on the back end of a cold". My @ss you're on the back end of a cold. The LCA probably got the upgrading captain sick, and the upgrading captain will join the ranks of "abusers". Nice cycle.