They paid for that sick bank as a negotiated benefit. Some use that benefit before retiring, some leave it on the table.

 

True, but the acceptance of that negotiated benefit comes with it that the accepted use of it is for being sick, not extra vacation time or to drop a trip with pay because they either don’t like the trip or didn’t make their commute.

It also leads to people flying sick so they can get that “extra vacation” later down the road and in turn getting someone else with a bit more integrity sick leading to them using their sick bank.

 

This is not rocket surgery. If you're sick, call out sick. If not, then don't. Simple. The amazing thing about our sl, is the ability to bank up a truckload of hours (unlike Delta). It's not for vacation. It's for cancer. Or anything that puts you out long term. Full pay for a long time... before LTD.
I know a lot of you young dudes want that Delta sick list. But here, you're gonna have to earn it before you abuse it. haha. Don't like it? Delta is still hiring. TYA. See ya.

 

Sick bank should be used as needed during your career. If you’re sick, then do the other guy a favor and call in sick. My first case of covid was from flying with someone who said it was just allergies. It is also there as a contractually negotiated item. Something else was reduced to provide that benefit. During your career it is there to protect pay when you are sick, but I definitely don’t see leaving it on the table. My plan is to call in sick every time that I’m sick and not infect others, but I’m also going to have zero time in my bank when I retire. I also like our plan in that we can build a big pad. I’d rather burn sick bank at full pay and avoid LTD if dealing with cancer or some major illness or injury.

 

Can you expound on your long term disability provisions? What happens when a guy who has been there five years and has somehow banked every possible hour of sick leave, has to go out for five years? what does that look like. Thanks

 

If the pilot opted into LTD... then the pilot would be eligible for LTD after 90 days disabled or the exhaustion of the pilot's sick leave to 120 hours, whichever is later. LTD pays 50% (1026 x hourly per annum) up to 11K per month/ 132K per year. So the 5 year guy would have 300 hours (if no sl usage) to widdle down to 120 (or to zero if he so chooses), then start LTD.

 

To add to this, that $11,000 per month is tax free. It comes from an insurance product and not wages, so there is no B-fund contribution. Also, since there are no wages from the company to deduct your portion of your insurance premiums, you cut a check to the company to cover your share. A friend is out on LTD right now. He’s getting $11k per month tax free and then cuts the company a check for around $400 to cover insurance for his entire family.

 

And if you reach 64 without getting cancer, count your blessings but why not utilize it? No longer in the realm of prisoners dilemma/game theory to your coworkers and represents an allotment of money for shareholders instead of you

 

This post is the epitome of how ignorant some are on this subject.

 

To expand on what Delta has for this and a prior post. If you had a serious illness you would go on sick leave until you exhaust your yearly bank. (270 hours max) At that point you go on short term disability which is 50% of your FAE which is your best 12 consecutive months in the last 36 months. This includes all earnings including profit sharing. After 90 days you transition to long term disability which pays the same. This benefit is 100% company funded. 98% of the Delta pilots also opt for a union program (DPMA) that is very low cost which provides a additional benefit for 1 year per occurrence and 2 years max that effectively brings you up to full pay for that time period. In addition you receive 32% of your disability pay into the DC plan. If you reach the IRS cap the remainder is paid as cash. In my case the program paid me 26,000 a month plus an additional 8300 a month to the DC plan after a major surgery. In addition the union plan paid 13,000 a month tax free. The company 50% FAE is taxed.
Full disclosure, I had a high FAE due to the large profit sharing in 2019, overtime and several extremely lucrative reroutes by Delta. One turned 6 days of flying into 7 days but pay went from 36 hours to almost 100 hours.