I am surprised no one brought this up. I recently read the profound(?) email from management on what sick leave is. I feel so edumacated. I think I'm calling in sick.

On another note... We as a pilot group need to do more to encourage management to come to the table with a more viable offer. If you are flying with someone on dft, vlt, or pairings the union is disputing, CALL THEM OUT. If you don't have the B*ll's post their employee number here and others can approach the individuals with what they think. We have way too many I's and not enough WE's. Pilots are a self centered bunch by nature, but more so they hate having their name in front of their fellow pilots whatever the reason.

 

I didn't give it much thought, and certainly wasn't motivated to contribute keystrokes to the subject. As far as I'm concerned, the only thing I need to know about Sick is contained in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. If there's anything in there about average sicktime usage or calling in sick within 4 hours of showtime, I missed it.

I only recently learned about the policy of questioning pilots who call in sick with less than four hours to show time when I did it myself. I received a notification in VIPS to contact my ACP (more than a week after the event, by the way). I was operating a trip through one of our hubs, so I diligently called, thinking it was something serious. No, he was just checking up on me for calling in sick. While he didn't directly ask me why I did it, I could tell he wanted me to explain what happened. I offered no explanation. He said that when we call in with less than 4 hours to show time, they have to contact us to find out what's going on, if something's wrong, if there's something they can help with. HA. Was I OK? (I should hope so, I'd flown five legs already. )

I told him that when I determined I was not fit to fly, I called in sick. Period.


And that's about all I have to say about his e-mail, too. When I determine that I am not fit to fly (refrain from the obvious jokes, folks ), I'll call in sick. Period.



My status is not determined by the clock, or by anybody's average. It's determined by my body, and my personal assessment of it.


Your mileage may vary...





- The truth only hurts if it should -

 

Take the lead aircum. Post your name and employee #.

 

I'm still waiting for you to tell me which Trip you're flying next so I can PDO bump the Captain.

It's easier to talk when your identity is hidden, isn't it?






- The truth only hurts if it should -

 

[QUOTE=aircum]I am surprised no one brought this up. I recently read the profound(?) email from management on what sick leave is.

I read the sick leave memo entitely differently. I didn't know that the "average" pilot calls sick 3.5 times/year. I didn't know that calling in sick 7 times in any 365 days flags your name for a special discussion with your friendly chief pilot. That means I can call in sick 4 more times per year without putting myself on report. I rather appreciated the educational sick leave memo.

"Mayday"

 

[QUOTE=TonyC]


I'm still waiting for you to tell me which Trip you're flying next so I can PDO bump the Captain.

It's easier to talk when your identity is hidden, isn't it?






I am still waiting to give him the blanket party!

 

Most school teachers I know are allowed up to 3 or 4 "personal days" per year. That way if their kid is sick, or they have something going on with the family, they can take off without "abusing the sick policy".

I am not sure if the sick section is TA'd or not (I should look, I guess), but it would be nice to be able to use sick leave for "personal leave" for up to, say, 3 or 4 days per year.

Then, for example, if you wanted to fly a private aircraft in an airshow, you could call in for a "personal day", and you wouldn't have to worry about any management guys hiding in the bushes with a video camera, waiting to bust you. Of course, that scenario would never happen at FedEx, would it?

 

Wait 'til you call in "Fatigued" ... that supposed "non-event" will get you a guaranteed "explain yourself e-mail" from your ACP/FOS.

 

Just ensure you have ALPA representation present at any of those "Explain yourself" sessions....

 

Couldn't agree more ... plus I'd "CC" your block rep, pro/stan, grievance and/or contract admin if you reply via e-mail.