The company's own Blue Cross/Blue Shield medical insurance encourages the use of their “24/7 Nurse Line” BEFORE seeing a physician.

It provides “free, confidential health information to assist in making informed health care decisions”. 1-866-406-0982

I’m sure they give out top quality advice --- because this service is already endorsed by FDX.

The Nurse Line was setup specifically for minor ailments and injuries of employees, and their dependents, with the hope that its use can reduce the company’s healthcare costs, by avoiding unnecessary trips to the doctor’s office or an urgent care clinic.
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BEWARE !

Speaking from personal experience, be advised that EVERY single thing that goes through your insurance company is a matter of record, and all prescription information is shared in a database for all insurance companies.

I will never discuss my physical condition with anyone other than my M.D., who is bound to keep my information private. The idea of discussing my medical problems with an unknown "nurse" who is employed by the very insurance company who will work to deny my claim at every opportunity is just stupid. I believe that they will use the documentation to establish a case for a chronic and/or preexisting condition.

Just go to the real MD. Nurse smurse.

 

Are you the guy that puts electrical tape over his iPad camera so that Management can't spy on him?

 

No. I am the guy who picks his nose for the camera to see if I ever get accused of being a Chronic Picker.

 

Several years ago, I called in sick on the 5th of July. Nothing major, I knew I could treat it with some self medication. I called the Nurse line as a CYA precaution. She recommend my intended solution, took her name, documented the time just in case. Sure enough got an Email from the ACP, they could be reasonable then, no problem, no second guessing, didn't even ask the name on the nurse line..

 

I always get a nurse's advice when I get sick, whether I ask for it or not. If I fail to heed her advice, I might be exiled to the couch. Nurses are nice, but they don't satisfy the language in the CBA. There are circumstances where The Company "may require a pilot to provide a written statement from the pilot's physician explaining his ability to perform his assigned duties because of illness or injury." There are no circumstances where The Company may require a nurse's initials.

Take a look at your brand new ALPA 2014 Pocket Calendar, open the front cover, and look on the right side of the first page. There you'll find the "IMSAFE" Personal Checklist as published by the FAA (you've heard of that organization) in AIM 8-1-1 and FAA-H-8083-25A.

Review the personal checklist, and make the judgment that only you the pilot can make.


"I'm physically and mentally safe to fly; not being impaired by:

• ILLNESS - Do I have any symptoms?

• MEDICATION - Have I been taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs?

• STRESS - Am I under psychological pressure from the job? Worried about financial matters, health problems or family discord?

• ALCOHOL - Have I been drinking within 8 hours? Within 24 hours?

• FATIGUE - Am I tired and not adequately rested?

• EATING - Am I adequately nourished?"

If you're not fit to fly, don't. Simple as that.






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.....shack!

This is exactly what I'm suggesting

Glad to hear there's some precedence of its acceptance for holiday-related sick calls

 

You guys actually have to turn in doctor's notes for sik? Is that a requirement or just a preventative measure to head off more enquiries into your sik call?

 

Please excuse my rant, but we are a 24 hour, 365 day a year airline. I pay thousands of dollars to my Union to represent me. I have on occasion had to call the Union Offices (M-F, 0800-1600) and speak with the contract folks to get an interpretation of whether or not something was legal. The problem is I have been less than impressed with our supposed experts. Most the time they don't know the contract any better than I do, or it's almost like you are speaking with someone on the company side of the table.

We need a 24 hour Pilot Contract Hotline

My suggestion would be to have a rotation of 10 or so contract savvy, educated pilots who know the contract and FARs front to back. Then at any given time there would always somebody available to answer any scheduling issue that might pop up. That same contract expert would also have the Duty Officer on speed dial to go to bat if needed (preferably on a recorded line). I'm tired of the FLY FIRST, GRIEVE LATER policy. Especially with our record of winning any grievance.

Not sure how we'd pay for it? Volunteers?

Just my two cents...

 

Yes and no. They may ask if you meet certain secret parameters. They don't ask everyone and there is no discernible pattern. That is the rub.

Here is the verbiage...

6. The Company may require a pilot to provide the System Chief Pilot’s designee with a written statement from the pilot’s physician explaining his inability to perform his assigned duties because of illness or injury if:

a. The Company has a good faith, and objective reason to question a pilot’s use or attempted use of sick leave; or

b. The pilot’s absence from duty occurred within 24 hours of the beginning or end of the pilot’s vacation period or a “holiday.” As used herein, “holiday” means Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. For purposes of this provision, the “vacation period” is the period originally awarded, unless the period is slid and/or extended, in which case the slid and/or extended dates become the “vacation period.”

c. The pilot has requested to utilize his disability sick account in accordance with Section 14.D.2.a.

 

I understand completely, I just decided not to go to a Doctor to tell me to take Benadryl. I was taking a risk, and taking minor precautions to satisfy my own personal integrity requirements. Had the company required more, I would have been SOL or had a precedent setting grievance. I would have lived with myself either way.