Originally Posted by
WorldTraveler
It is yours to use only when sick.
It is indeed a negotiated benefit but like insurance only intended to be used when needed. Calling in sick when not needed is like filing an auto insurance claim when your car was never damaged.
When the benefit is negotiated, the company gives us a certain amount of sick leave in our banks based on data of how often the average person is ill over a career. Just like an insurance company calculating a premium based on likelihood of an accident.
They don't calculate the benefit on everyone using all of their bank. if they did, the bank accrual would be significantly lower or the cost to us in other areas of the contract would be higher.
A big
+1 to your post, WorldTraveler. You nailed it.
Others somehow believe their individual actions don't have consequences for the group. Delta had some pretty strong data to back up their demand for a 75% pay sick bank after so many hours of usage. So did NWA. Amazingly, when the pay was reduced pilot behavior changed.
Contracts and labor law don't allow easy individual enforcement for management; they took the simpler route and got the results they wanted.
Those guys that use "platinum days" have cost those that are legitimately sick money when they most needed it. Of course, those hours are "theirs to use..."
