Doctors notes at Pinnacle
 

I'm about to call in sick for an ear infection. I'm sure it will go away in a few days on it's own. I'm so confused on all the sick policy's! What's the current status on the sick policy, do we have to get a doctors note, or just have union representation when we come in for the carpet dance?


On a side note, will we still have to have notes from our doctors when we call in sick with our new contract?

If you are sick, call in. If you call in, go to the doc.

I agree. Under my currents employer's policy, if you bring a doctor's note it won't count towards your rolling 12 month count.

Am I glad we have it? Of course I am. The beef I have is when I'm sick, I shouldn't have to schedule an appointment, pay the copay, and have a doctor tell me what in most cases I already know.

I wish there was language that said they'd just payroll deduct my copay amount and call it good. A lot of time's it'd be a lot easier.

So we have to get doctors note? Or are just recommending it?

I won't tell you what you must do, but I will say that you "should" do it. Every carrier has the ability to ask for a note, it just so happens that our employer utilizes that provision.

Some are also required to pay for said Dr visit when asking for that note. Do you guys have a similar provision?

Company is responsible for the bill. Co-pay included.

True story-

A few years ago at airline X, flight ops management started requesting doctors notes for every sick call.

So pilot xxx calls in sick due to a headache. Nothing serious, just an average, run of the mill headache. The next day he calls in to try and rejoin his trip (as he was allowed to per contract) only to be told the company wanted a doctors note prior to being allowed back on. So he heads to a local airline appointed clinic and reports to the doctor that he needed the note to go back to work. The doctor, angry that the company is wasting her time with mundane appointments, orders over $20,000 in tests to ensure the headache was not caused by something more serious.

Eventually the company gets the bill and tries to pin the cost on the pilot, calling the testing excessive and noting he should have refused the testing. His argument, which eventually stands up, is the company sent him to the doctor on their bill, the pilot has no medical training and thus was not in a position to question the judgment of the doctor when requesting the tests.

Airline x takes a very long break from requiring doctors notes for sick calls.

just a heads up. If it is an Infection, it will not go away on its own.

Nice story NEDude

"Doctor's verification notes are in effect and required for all sick absences until January 7, 2011."

I know that' today, so it depends on your definition of "until." My bet is the company's definition will be if you call in sick today, you need one. Then again, I wouldn't be surprised to get a CrewTrac message tomorrow saying "Due to an increase in unplanned absences, we are extending the DVN requirement until February 1st, 2011."

Go to the doctor, get the receipt for the co-pay and fill out the expense report.