My experience was similar to crewdawg's. During probationary chief pilot meetings the CPs say that if you're sick then call in sick. The problem is they bring this topic up every meeting and talk far longer about sick call than anything else. It sends a mixed message.

It was enough for me to not call in sick while I was on probation. That said, I finally did call in sick shortly after getting off probation and scheduling was very professional, and I got nothing more than an automated email from the chief pilot office. Done and easy.

I don't blame guys on probation for not calling in sick, they really are receiving a mixed message. I then saw proof of the mixed message when signing in at ATL the other day. Obviously sick captain hacking away walks up to another captain and introduces himself as his LCA for an OE trip and claiming he's "on the back end of a cold". My @ss you're on the back end of a cold. The LCA probably got the upgrading captain sick, and the upgrading captain will join the ranks of "abusers". Nice cycle.

A little thread creep here. The biggest argument against being able to bank unused sick leave is that guys/gals will fly sick. Sounds like it is happening anyway.

Yes it does. BUT IMO it will be 10 fold if it has carryover value. Pilots will treat it like a 401k.

I am a mentor and don't tell my guys that.

Scoop

Ditto, in fact I've told my guys just the opposite. If you're sick, don't fly!

Why is this even an issue?

It's not.

It's a red herring dreamed up by management that they expected ALPA to pass in an effort to squeeze more blood from a stone(efficiency) out of the pilots.

The machiavellian maneuver by management and served to us by ALPA would have worked had the pilots voted yes. We didn't.

Unfortunately we are still discussing the merits of this red herring. It needs to stop.

We are currently under the sick leave program management "had to have". They can live with it.

I have moved as far as I'm willing to move on sick leave.

Disregard...


CG

Excellent post!! You hit the nail on the head.

I'm on vacation this week but I and the other 3 in my house are sick. I'm contemplating going to the Doctor tomorrow. Just costs so damn much for nothing but this thing has moved into my chest.

Happens twice a year around here, once when it goes from cold to hot to cold to hot to cold to hot in the Spring and reverse it in the fall. In Gawga, it's one or the other, very little transition.