Can one submit a request for reimbursement for said DR's note? Haven't gotten that far myself with sick time yet. But since they require it they should pay for it. That or give us better insurance that 100% covers drs visits...

 

Yes and no. There was always verification, but you used to be able to preverify which you can now only do for reasons that almost never happen. They also changed to a rolling 12 month window instead of set calendar year. Having just recently gone to the doc for a non-qualifying injury, it definitely would've been nice to preverify since I was there anyway instead of having to make an unnecessary doctor's appointment for some future cold I might have should I go over 100 hours of sick usage.

To me our sick leave verification, assumed extension policy, and FRB are all examples of Delta pushing pilots as ayecarumba stated earlier. It'll save the bean counters a few pennies here and there right until it doesn't and there's a monstrous coming to jesus moment.

 

Right. This was a huge give and one less piece of swiss cheese in the stack.

Being able to preverify worked exactly like you described; when you're at the Dr's anyway, or when you know you have an easily verifiable condition, you could get the note to reduce future scrutiny. Now OTOH, you're dependant on whatever you happen to get on the 101st hour (just to oversimplify, no need to quote the entire legalese on it) and if that condition is something hard to verify, then you will be pressured to fly with it and inevitably some do because no one knows what happens when you go get a required note under official scrutiny and the note only says "ops check good could not duplicate" or "patient reports...could not verify". Then what? No one really knows and that seems to be by design.

I believe they believe that. However its logical that many pilots don't want to push it, don't want the scrutiny, and don't want to get close to the 100 much less over it for "minor" or borderline conditions, so the incentive is there to just carry it at virtually any hour mark. That has to result in more on the road sick outs as well as getting others sick. We look at this in the context of "abusers" and supposedly everyone has the restrictions we do because of a few so accused individuals. Certain entities want to reduce the "abuse" and see such efforts as reducing total sick call time/credit etc. More productivity and the like. However what likely never makes the White Papers much less the negotiating table is the downline consequences of the policies. If you are faced with your first sick call that triggers the verification and its a full blown flu/pnemonia or some well documented condition where your Dr will air drop notes like confetti after the moon landing, then you have nothing to worry about. But if its a borderline condition (upset stomach, mild-moderate nausea and many others) that are probably unmeasurable by a third party...now what? So it becomes easier to just carry it in to work.

The pitfalls of the current system are going to be extremely hard to claw back in C19 and I doubt there's even a "mandate" to do so with all the rest that will be focused on. If anything, we will be under pressure to give even more back because this is viewed as a net cost hemmoraging item.

 

Oh, I know how it used to work. I used to print a verification form for every dr visit. And I know how it currently works.



But my point remains. It was a give on the last go-round. It won't come back. Unless and until, as you point out, a monstrous moment should occur. Hope it doesn't, but wish this sick give wasn't ratified.

 

Dodo,

Um, when I'm sick I call out sick. "That being said"..., don't worry, sounds like I would never want to share a cockpit with you anytime anyway.

I understand this was part of our current contract. It was an all or nothing package, not a vote on the individual provisions. Next you're going to tell me what a great deal reroutes are.

You must have some kind of secret dossier that gives you insight into what the entire pilot group wants at any given moment....or it maybe this guy is your hero...the one that you would love to fly with as he never called in sick in 45 years.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/today...d-run/1978041/

I guess with your attitude we should never seek improvements or bother re-negotiating anything since once it's done it's "game over" in your book.

 

Umm, I think you misunderstand me, ayecarumba.
I was only trying to say that this poop-sandwich we took with the last contract ratification was detrimental to our ability to determine whether we are safe to fly. My comment about not sharing a cockpit with me while sick was meant to say, "don't fly if you're sick!!!"
I completely understand the sick give was a poop-sandwich we collectively decided to eat for the gains realized. My only point was don't let this stupid verification program force you to sit next to me because the company is forcing you to. I don't want to get sick and bring that back to my family after a trip any more than you probably do.


"That being said," I wouldn't mind flying with you (unless you are sick!)

 

Post script:
I gaze with a hairy eyeball at anyone who never once calls in sick.

 

I think I understood what you were saying. Not sure ayecarumba did, though.

You don't want to fly with someone who buckles to this absurd sick policy. Amiright?

 

Umm, I think you misunderstand me, ayecarumba.
Ahh, thank you for clarifying that...I was worried you might actually enjoy hanging around the urgent care waiting room for 4 hours to be seen by a PA and paying an extra $10 for them to fax the required form to Delta. That was fun, fun, fun.

And I clarify my statement to read:


Cheers, -AC

 

What is a non-qualifying injury? Sure, I guess there are injuries that might not impact your ability to walk a jet bridge, yank on a yoke or push a rudder pedal, but isn’t any physical injury and resultant need for medical care (i.e. going to the ER when you are scheduled to fly) a legit utilization of sick benefits? Let’s say my jigsaw jumped while working on a craft project and lacerated my abdomen. Non life threatening if treated properly, with zero impact on mobility, aside from a bit of pain sitting up. Sure, I could fly. But I don’t want to and I need to seek treatment. Is that not cause for a sick call?