Trent900

Hey guys, what's the deal on sick calls and getting hired?

I had 3 this year and FMLA of 3 weeks for surgery. Don't anticipate any more.

Attendance over the years has been very good.


Thanks in advance.


Trent

RockyBoy

I got hired in 07 and had 3 sick calls the year prior. They asked why and I showed them pictures of my 3 kids all under the age of 8. Just don't lie to them on how much sick time you use because they will find out.

On a side note, a hot topic issue within the FAA right now is pilots flying while under the influence of OTC drugs that are not approved. If we all followed the FAA guidance on flying while using OTC meds, there would be alot more sick calls.

alvrb211

Thanks man. Just trying to get ducks in a row. I have all I need including 3 LORs from great guys at DAL. Flying an A320 right now but would love to switch to DAL colors.

Had app in for a few years and, as I predicted long ago, DAL is still the place to go.


Thanks again

SUX4U

This topic seems to come up in my flight deck from time to time. One guy the other week told me he calls of with FMLA related issues maybe 4 to 6 times a year. He has a very keen interest to join Delta and he feels that FMLA call offs are not something Delta cares about. So do I understand that right that if you have a condition that requires you to call off 6 times a year, its no problem to DL. However if you get sick and call off a few times a year this is frowned upon?

alvrb211

I have no idea about FMLA. A friend at DAL told me he "believed" up to 3 sick calls a year were considered acceptable. But, I don't have any official info on this.

I had one friend who interviewed and came clean about multiple sick calls. He believes this was the show stopper for him.


Trent

EmbraerFlyer

So one is suppose to work in an enclosed tube that is: rarely cleaned, where people are always flying sick, where germs spreads then spawn then grow and regrown and is only suppose to be sick a minimum of 3 times per year.

alvrb211

Don't take my word for it. Like I said, my DAL buddy "believes" 3 sick calls a year is max allowed. I don't have official word on it.

I try not to call in sick but sometimes a cold will get the better of me and I have no option. Don't wanna be less than 100% or get my crew sick.


Trent

EmbraerFlyer

I don’t doubt your friends believe 3 is the max allowed. More than likely it’s a bad culture and mindset adapted and engrained from the regionals. The average regional pilot accumulates 36 -50 hours of sick time in a year (enough for 2-3 4days). The most junior Delta pilot is about 4th year which equates to 125 hour of sick time per year. It gets better. From year 9 to 20 and beyond a Delta pilot accumulate 240 to 270 hours of sick time per year.

I highly doubt 3 sick calls per year is out-of-bounds. I work at a regional and I get where you are coming from, however, it is unrealistic for anyone to expect you to only be sick 3 times per year and anything over that is too much.

The regional mindset and culture on sick and fatigue goes against everything you learned as a early as a student pilot from primacy IMSAFE..

I’m not saying one should burn through every hour of sick time they accumulate in a year, however, it is crazy that pilots have adapted this unsafe practice which is now the new norm.

RJtrashPilot

Deleted......

80ktsClamp

As long as you havent called in sick every holiday, you're fine and I wouldn't worry about it. They are only looking at that.

I was interview by the man that never called in sick and just recently retired. I asked what they were looking for, and he said that.