Doctor's Notes for Sick Use
05-09-2026 | 03:44 PM
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2012
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The way it went with the case Im familiar with, company asked for a sick note after what they considered excessive use (4 times in a rolling 12 month period). The guy said in his state thats not a legal request, so they fired him for sick abuse.
Union grieved it, grievance obviously denied. Went to arbitration and arbitrator said that under RLA unless you can prove the company is wrong, their position is always correct, and with no sick notes he had nothing to counter. Arbitrator held the termination.
Union grieved it, grievance obviously denied. Went to arbitration and arbitrator said that under RLA unless you can prove the company is wrong, their position is always correct, and with no sick notes he had nothing to counter. Arbitrator held the termination.
05-09-2026 | 03:59 PM
#23
In a land of unicorns
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 7,070
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From: Whale FO
Interesting, sounds like the guy might have locked himself into that position by saying that in an email or recorded phone line? Either way once disciplinary action looks eminent better to just let the union take over and make an argument. You can sometimes handcuff reps with written statements and recorded phone calls.
He would have kept his job if he just went mea culpa, but he went full sovereign citizen on them and tried to be smarter than others.
05-09-2026 | 04:09 PM
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2012
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Sounds about right. We had a guy call in sick 20 plus times on probation. In the disciplinary hearing with the union fighting for his job he told the chief pilot to F off. Then got ****ed at alpa for not saving his job. Unfreeking believable.
05-09-2026 | 04:09 PM
#26
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Mar 2008
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No. Sick use over 120 hours in prior 12 rolling months requires a note on a subsequent sick call, in the next subsequent bid period (assuming you're still above 120).(until you are less than 120 hours of ‘lookback’).
Separately, the company may inquire under a “good faith basis” and may require a note, but there are exemptions and they have to tell you the reason for the inqiry. Patterns or amount of sick are not valid reasons for GFB. The company pays for all medical bills if they GFB you.
It’s much more of a annoyance than anything.
Separately, the company may inquire under a “good faith basis” and may require a note, but there are exemptions and they have to tell you the reason for the inqiry. Patterns or amount of sick are not valid reasons for GFB. The company pays for all medical bills if they GFB you.
It’s much more of a annoyance than anything.
05-09-2026 | 05:20 PM
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,767
Likes: 59
I would be surprised if there’s much variation as it’s mostly insurance driven. Your just not going to come to an agreement if the company has no way of cyaing for medical issues they could/should have known about. Hopefully others from those companies will chime in.
Yesterday | 04:27 AM
#28
Line Holder
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 504
Likes: 12
When I was at WN I got called by an Assistant Chief because Scheduling had reported that I had called out for 3 trips in a row, I informed him that the trips were all turns so I had only called out for 3 days.
Yesterday | 06:31 AM
#29
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Engines Turn or People Swim
Stupid Management Tricks.
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