Outside group sick monitor
 

Do your homework!
Read the TA

An outside company reviewing your medical records?

HIPPA laws ignored?

"Sedgwick is the leading global provider of innovative, technology-enabled claims and productivity management solutions, delivering a world of expert resources to a diverse client base through nearly 12,000 colleagues in some 275 offices located in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.K. We offer the broadest array of integrated services available in the industry, delivered by experienced, knowledgeable and dedicated people.
Sedgwick has succeeded by listening to our clients, learning what they need, understanding their challenges, and providing tailored solutions and thought leadership to help enhance their businesses. This is why we are the market leader – not because we are the largest, but because we offer a world of resources to comprehensively address our clients’ needs and an expansive array of services unparalleled in the industry.
Serving customers’ needs is what we do best. The culture of our organization is driven by client satisfaction, quality and results. We are committed to minimizing costs, ensuring compliance, creating greater customer satisfaction and delivering the data needed for continual improvement.

Our end-to-end solutions encompass workers’ compensation; disability, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and other employee absences; general, automobile, property, product and professional liability; as well as specialty market services, such as affinity and first and third party fleet programs, healthcare risk management, and retail and consumer care services.
But we offer much more than just a list of services. With Sedgwick, you receive our pledge to be good stewards of your business, to provide access to a world of resources tailored to your specific needs, and to offer commitment and strength for today…and tomorrow."

Having this 3rd party being such an integral part of our sick policy is extremely disturbing. True that many of us may not have to deal with them on a yearly basis, but I pray for those that do. Check out their website, we will now have to answer to Bob in India over the pounding in my head from my sinus infection. Unfortunately the management knows that ultimately if we fly "sick," and God forbids something happens, they'll just say "pilot shoulda called in sick." But what they won't tell the media or FAA is that we've put into place a sick call system that has made it very difficult and intrusive for a pilot to call in sick after his/her 15 days, and so they decided to fly sick and risk the lives of their passengers, crew, and livelihood. Shame on management and the union for shoving this down our throats. If they wanted to do something like this, we should have had a comprehensive and mutual study done to figure out how we can best combat sick abuse, and by hiring a 3rd party right without doing our research is a huge overreach. What are the chances the union has done their homework on Sedgwick, their operation, and how they will affect our pilots? My guesses are zero, none, zilch, nada....this is a MASSIVE give back, do your homework people! I for one don't want to have to give up ANY medical information unless it's between me, my primary doc, and my AME.

Here's my question on this: Can you be FORCED to waive your privacy rights under HIPPA? I wouldn't think so, but this is definitely a concern that I have on this agreement.

Delta has made it very clear they hate our current policy, which was negotiated by them, and now this is the alternative? My biggest and most pressing question is how much research and time has been put forth by the union investigating not only this company, Sedgwick, but ANY 3rd party intrusion into our sick policy? Again my guess is none, and this is disturbing for many reasons.

The verification form is the same basic form that is in place today. The verification will be Dr. to Dr. (Dr. Faulkner and Delta Health Services from what I understand). It takes verification out of the Chief Pilot's office (or Bob from India) which I believe is a good thing!!

Disregard...

I don't think you can be FORCED to do anything BUT I bet you could/will either lose pay or get fired for not releasing the information.

Denny

Hix can you provide the "new" verification form for us to see?

If it is Dr Faulkner, then I have zero problem with this deal. (The problem becomes of course, what happens when he retires or leaves). He's a good man, and works hard to get DAL pilots back to work. I have first hand knowledge of this when he got my medical back in a matter of a couple of weeks that would have taken the idiots in Ok City months to do.

Guy's talk to FA's you know who have "legitimate" FMLA issue's. They deal with sedgwick and the doctors hate them. I know one doctor who called them totally incompetent.

This sick leave deal is a non-starter for me and I've hardly used any.

As you said, what happens when he retires?

Bottom line, we are all adults and are being treated like children. I know this year my sick leave was up from years past and I went over 100 hrs. I had half of my stuff verified and my doc who is my AME was appalled that Delta required us to do the verification. He went as far to say he did not want to sign it since this should be between me and him.

So as for sick leave, as long as there is detailed verification involved, it is a NO vote for me!

Wrong. Check your facts.

Faulkner = NOT involved.

Outside vendor already hired to do verification. Their "doctor" to your doctor.

Better make sure your doctor releases ONLY the pertinent information and not all your records, which commonly are released by the office staff in a release to other healthcare professionals

Read the facts.

NOT Faulkner.

He flat out refused to be involved with this when first approached.

This is what John Malone had to say about it in a FB group:

"Both parties need to get back to bargaining table and solve this thing in manner that treats the 99% of us as professionals. There is always a solution, and this isn't one of them."

I think it pretty well sums things up.

Where in the agreement will we deal with Sedgwick?

From another post. Was displayed as news on dlnet for awhile yesterday until they pulled it.

I just saw a press release stating that Delta hired Sedgwick as its new workers compensation administration firm.

I looked up Sedgwick. Lo and behold, they also offer a "Disability and Absence" monitoring service.
Here's the description: https://www.sedgwick.com/claims/Pages/disabilityabsence.aspx

Do you suppose Delta signed up for the "package deal" in anticipation of this TA passing? Workers comp and "absence" management.

They don't list "airline crew" as one of their specialties. What could possibly go wrong?

At any point in time, the average large employer has 20% of their employees absent from work due to an active family and medical leave (FML), disability, workers’ compensation or other type of absence request. The impact of unscheduled employee absence on American business has been estimated at $74 billion or as much as 36% of payroll. And that’s a drain on everyone.


As the largest provider of self-funded disability solutions, we can offer a combination of services that cover every possible time away from work scenario including short-term and long-term disability, leave of absence Family and Medical Leave (FML) and workers’ compensation. Our integrated programs provide a high degree of customer service and return employees to work as quickly and safely as possible. We are the only administrator with a solid focus on tailoring our services to the unique needs of each client. And after just one year of working with our clients, we typically see a 15 to 20% reduction of unnecessary absences. Our team of more than 3,000 disability and leave experts not only ensures compliance with the myriad of complex federal laws governing disability and FML, but they also treat each employee with compassion and respect, and act as an advocate for their overall health and wellness during the disability or leave process.

Administration services:
• PTO
• Sick time
• Vacation
• State, federal and municipality leave such as FML
• Short-term disability
• Long-term disability
• Military service
• Employer specific process

It's a great question. HIPAA laws don't apply to a corporation who asks for the information for the specific purpose of paying out sick benefits. You as the employee still have the right to refuse under HIPAA, but the company is then under no violation of law to not pay you for your sick time.

Carl

It's not Hix. It opens the door to third party vendor doctors who's stated corporate objective is to minimize costs to Delta.

Carl

I've never had dealings with Dr Faulkner but I've heard great things about him, I'll add your story to the list.

But, it does bring up something I'd been thinking about since I first read about the switch to DHS for verification. I'm sure they will have to add staff to cover the workload currently being done in the CPSC or whatever they call them now.

Sooooooo, now that I've heard about this outside/contract group it all makes sense. It could be the devil you know vs the devil you don't know..........but this has me worried. Sorta like the Master Sargent in the Flight Surgeon's office who didn't like pilots doing your annual eye and hearing exam:D

Ferd

Source?

We need more details above what the NC notepad published.

Would they then code that as a PD or APD?

The FA's already use Saklick, so yes they do work with aircrew.

It's always the coverup that reveals so much more than the actual crime. The fact that they posted information about Sedgwick on Deltanet then immediately removed it speaks volumes.

They do plan a sick leave harassment program. And they don't want us to know until after we vote.

Exactly right.

Carl

Dammitt! Another computer screen down.

Carl

Typo guys!! Jesus. Will fix. Lmao.


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One day I was driving from my house about an hour or so away from the airport to the training center for my 88 to 717 transition. I had this 717 VFD in my possession and it didn't work. I really wanted a new one. I had this email I was supposed to send my request to was a female. And a Delta employee mind you.

So I decided instead of texting and driving I'd use my speak texting thing. I remember saying "I'd like to come in and swap it." Referring to my VFD.

I was about to hit send without looking at what it wrote for me. Something told me to look. And I'm glad I did because what it decided I meant was: "I'd like to c**swap it."

That was not what I was trying to say. At all. In any way shape or form. I'm still not 100% sure what that is and I'm not going to google it. Even though I'm sure there are plenty of websites, images, videos, video sites and so forth that would be glad to explain it. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

Sailingfun, P2P volunteer said so. I also read a post from the Proffesor who said he was told sedgwick will handle LTD.

Manager, I have checked the facts. Delta Health Services will be administrating the verification process. Currently, that is Dr. Faulkner.

Copied from another thread because it's that important. I'm not a DAL pilot but feel strongly enough because I've seen the ramifications to share my opinion.

"We have a similar system at ExpressJet to track absences. It uses FMLA criteria to determine whether an absence is excused. There is almost absolute disapproval, not because the absence doesn't qualify but because t's and i's haven't been dotted and crossed. You normally have to follow up and appeal to get an absence approved.

They also used to out-source the function to an "objective" third party; F and H solutions. We are all familiar with them.

Do not allow them to enact this abysmal policy on you."

First. The new form is more intrusive than the current form...WHICH IS NOT EVEN REQUIRED FOR VERIFICATION APPROVAL.

The new, more intrusive form will be compulsory.

Second, thanks for the sneaky language ref: Faulkner "currently" DHS. But it has been confirmed on that he will not be anywhere involved in this new process.

Good thing we aren't being fed a sales job.

IMO, two potential issues with the above post:

1. Delta Healthcare Services (DHS) ??? Is that like Delta Connection, INC (DCI) or Delta Ground Services (DGS)? These outfits are not RD. They are faux Delta. They are bargain basement outfits. It gives us a false sense of comfort when the name Delta is used as a prefix. If we are going to go through this fecal maze, we should be dealing with fellow Delta Air Lines employees. (RD not faux D)


2. Dr Faulkner is a good guy. One day he will leave or he could be told that his unit (DHS) will now be run out of Bombay. He might not want to relocate....

Sorry PD, no where in any of my posts have I told anyone how to vote on the TA--no sales job.

I would like to know where it is confirmed that Dr. Faulkner and Delta Health Services will not be part of the verification process. Thanks

Hix,

Why is DHS an ok outfit to deal with? The "Delta" prefix doesn't make it real Delta anymore than Delta Connection is RD.