I don't sweat vacations as in if I don't get a week I want, I am just going to use sick time to get the time off. It is nice, however, not to have to get creative and worry if someone is peeking over your shoulder when you call out repeatedly for a long trip. I stopped caring about my sick usage a decade ago, but I am also not going to put a target on my back by being extra stupid about it. Certain career minded chief pilots still do things like wellness calls and meetings. Ask around. It happens. Once that scarlet letter is on your chest, you aren't going to get left alone about it. Every call
is going to be scrutinized. I flew with a certain pilot who lived in Costa Rica and he was on that special program. It was max harassment.