Mil Leave questions for US Airways/American
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Posts: 19,273
Huey,
I wouldn't give it a second thought. You are not screwing the company. There are pilots that drop yr long mil leave right after trng.
People who screw the company are those who get their sked and then drop mil leave day before a rotation. Some mil orders are pop up but most know ahead of time and to continually drop trips right before checkin is much more of an abuse. Legal but abusive. Now I realize why people do it is if they commit to mil leave and that goes away they lose pay so some feel painted into a corner.
I wouldn't give it a second thought. You are not screwing the company. There are pilots that drop yr long mil leave right after trng.
People who screw the company are those who get their sked and then drop mil leave day before a rotation. Some mil orders are pop up but most know ahead of time and to continually drop trips right before checkin is much more of an abuse. Legal but abusive. Now I realize why people do it is if they commit to mil leave and that goes away they lose pay so some feel painted into a corner.
#22
As of now, the only orders I have are for my Annual Tour days later this summer. When my unit tells me they have a training date to get requal'd, I'll let them know. Beyond the requal orders and AT, I'm going to do my best to fit my mil days into my off days.
#23
Huey,
I wouldn't give it a second thought. You are not screwing the company. There are pilots that drop yr long mil leave right after trng.
People who screw the company are those who get their sked and then drop mil leave day before a rotation. Some mil orders are pop up but most know ahead of time and to continually drop trips right before checkin is much more of an abuse. Legal but abusive. Now I realize why people do it is if they commit to mil leave and that goes away they lose pay so some feel painted into a corner.
I wouldn't give it a second thought. You are not screwing the company. There are pilots that drop yr long mil leave right after trng.
People who screw the company are those who get their sked and then drop mil leave day before a rotation. Some mil orders are pop up but most know ahead of time and to continually drop trips right before checkin is much more of an abuse. Legal but abusive. Now I realize why people do it is if they commit to mil leave and that goes away they lose pay so some feel painted into a corner.
#24
Banned
Joined APC: Dec 2009
Position: Narrow/Left Wide/Right
Posts: 3,655
Delta only started tracking the 5 year rule because junior pilots complained about a large block of pilots who were taking 8 to 10 years of mil leave to get their 20 in. Complaints were made that junior pilots were being harmed which forced the company to act. So far however they have only set up a system to track future leave and have made no effort to look back.
#25
I view your comments as a badge of honor.
#26
Banned
Joined APC: Dec 2009
Position: Narrow/Left Wide/Right
Posts: 3,655
Some would volunteer and get orders for a whole month and give their airline weeks of notice to prepare. Legal and legit.
Some would put mil leave in their schedule, the company would drop their trip or bid around it, then the military would cancel the trip and the company would say too bad, so sad, so those pilots tended to wait until they were sure the military orders were in hand before telling the company.
Lots of competing strategies.
Bottom line, when the company doesn't need you, they do not hesitate to furlough, so if staying plugged in to a reserve gig might save your bacon during a downturn, then don't give up that insurance, and don't have any guilt about serving your country.
#27
ESGR and DOD suggest you notify when learn of the military service. However, several companies FOM directs their policy (not to violate USERRA, any many at times push the limit)
ESGR is a non binding
#28
Ethics is expected from the employee. The Employer is expected to obey USERRA. There is a difference.
My suggestion: Help your unit out. You have a skill set necessary for the service of our country. Your employer doesn't like it and basically never will but accepts the reality of USERRA. You will likely serve your employer years beyond your ability to serve your respective service.
Personally, am amazed at how many employers are pushing what they 'request' from employees that is NOT required by USERRA. Employers may ask for orders under 30 days, many pilots comply which emboldens employers to ask for more 'relief' from USERRA.
You cannot be terminated or fired for not complying with company request that violate USERRA. At my employer, they ask for all sorts of non USERRA required items.
Talk to DOL VETS , it's OK if an employer asks, bit they cannot mandate or enforce. Example: Give orders before you depart on military service. NOT REQUIRED. As a matter of fact, never have to provide orders. We do have to provide written documentation of our military service if requested for duty over 30 days. A letter from your unit that states you were compliant with USERRA 4304 and 4312.
#29
We have answered our nation's call, and deployed to far away combat zones, flying missions under hostile fire, so yeah, we don't believe in kissing a$$, or being diplomatic as you put it. And we most certainly do fight to defend our USERRA rights.
I view your comments as a badge of honor.
I view your comments as a badge of honor.
#30
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Posts: 19,273
Sailing, it was a little more than that. Also, there were lots of caveats as to what duty counted as in support of major operations ie Noble Eagle for example. Because the military/congress started wrapping everything they could link to Noble Eagle, many activations and orders did not count towards the 5 yr limit. DAL said a couple of years ago to the effect, ok all orders prior to 2010 could have been in support of Noble Eagle/GWOT but going forward, you'll need to prove it, so I think you will see a lot of long term MIL types returning.
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