GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!!!!
Make sure you read the FMLA law...I was burned by it because I had not been with the company for "1 year" :eek:.
Had to take personal leave and had to fight for every day off. It should work for most of you...just keep the one year thing in mind.

well the government had to set some sort of stipulation... can you imagine the abuse they would see if there was no prerequisite??? 1 year employment is not much to ask. we waited till i knew my son would be born after i had been here for a year. it was easy peasy... all i did was take the paperwork to the doctor, she asked me how much time i wanted, i said a month, she filled it out, i turned it in, and took my month off. no hassle, no mess. easier than bidding for my vacation time!!

There were several similar situations while I was a rep at Pinnacle. In one case, a pilot request leave during his probie year because his wife was having a problem pregnancy. The company responded by telling him that the airline was understaffed, so the leave was denied. The pilot politely informed the company that he absolutely had to be with his wife for the next few weeks, one way or another. Long story short, the company told him to show up to work or hand in his ID. He did what was right for his family and handed in his ID.

There were other instances involving weddings, child care, etc... Basically, Pinnacle management simply doesn't care one bit about you, and they certainly don't care about your family.

That would be nice, but most managements make that impossible. The overwhelming majority of ALPA reps really do want to get along with management and have a mutually beneficial relationship, but very few managers are willing to go along with it.

Yep, that's about right. It's not really that they're out to get you for sport, it's just that they don't care about you. You're nothing but an employee number to them. You're just one of the "little people." Your well-being is of absolutely no concern to them.

That's nothing but lip service from most CPs and other managers. They talk a nice game, but virtually none of it is true. There are some managers that really do want to help, but they're few and far between. You'll learn quickly that you have to take care of yourself. No one in management cares about you, and they won't be there to help you when you need it.

i am glad he made the right choice. you are right. management doesn't care one little bit about any of us. i loved walking into the base managers office (haven't met the new one yet), handing her my fmla paperwork, and saying see you in a month.... looked at my schedule and all of my trips were gone. just know your rights and there is nothing they can do.

Did this happen to a new hire at Comair? How new? As far as I know they were very accomodating for my friend to be in his ex stepfathers wedding....... yeah.....

Wedding Day
 

I know a guy who was drafted on his wedding while putting on his tux.

I was best man at my best friends wedding and with three months notice the assistant chief pilot somehow couldn't make arrangements for me to get the day off.

Most other industries are not like this one. Other companies make better accommodations for their workers to have the time off they need.

Airlines in general but especially regionals know that they got us as their pawns.

Skyhigh

this was the iceing on the cake so to speak... there were more events that lead up to this decision by ops.. when it is all said and done the union will get his job back. and he has been here now for almost 4 years. so not on probation

Its not that they are out to screw you. They don't care that much.

You aren't a person, you're a part.

The sooner we all realize this truth, the better off we all will be. Understanding that we are just part of the MEL allows us to communicate with management more clearly.

Bad Communication Example
Pilot: I need this day off.
HR: Why?
Pilot: To attend my wedding.
HR: (Thinks: Part still working, no need to replace.) Denied due staffing.


Good Communication Example
Pilot: I need this day off.
HR: Why?
Pilot: I will not function properly on this day. I'll function just fine the next day.
HR: (Thinks: Part isn't working, have no spare parts!) Oh no. We're short staffed.
Pilot: Gee, that sounds like you're pretty ****ty managers. Maybe you should get someone in here who can run an airline. See ya.

It's like someone said earlier. If you absolutely need the days off, and its just a few days, call in sick and never look back. Don't feel guilty, you are just handling your responsibilities as a pilot properly. If you aren't home when you need to be, you're in no fit state to fly anyway.