If you're sick. You're sick. If you show up for work sick that's a bad look - especially on probation. If you get a call you get a call. But if you do get a call make sure that it's not from one of the manger's personal phones. Make sure you're talking on the recorded line.

 

Thank you to everyone for the replies, really appreciated.
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Am I correctly understanding that there is no sick bank for the first year? So a sick call is just unpaid and you take the credit hit?

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I'm also to trying to form a picture of what commuting might look like for my particular situation. Could someone talk me through the cliff notes of commuting requirements? Stuff like how many how many flights are required, is there any commuter protection , is there any difference if taking company metal to work? I thought I read somewhere that there might be some time restrictions on how long you have to arrive before a report time?
Are there any UPS specific rules or idiosyncrasies regarding commuting that would be good to know?
I'm fairly close to RFD, how much of a commuting asset would that be for getting to/from SDF or ONT?

 

Correct...you accrue sick time (5.5hr/pay period), but cannot use it until off probation. A SIK call on probation results in loss of pay.

 

And probation is extended by the days out. Same goes for mil leave I think.

 

we don’t have a “commuter clause” per se. If you are on Brown tails and you miss your flight then you can be excused, however, if you had a trip you will lose pay and the company can use you if they need. Just don’t make it a habit and he able to explain why you didn’t have a plan A B C — granted if they airplane cancels due to MX not much to explain.
also if you buy a ticket and by the powers that be you cannot make it to work, same as a above applies.
as a probie you need to have plan A B C and D. Even if you have to leave a day early, do it. Not ideal but you have to do what you have to do.
you can list 12 days out on brown tails, so I recommend you do so. They do track everything!!. Word to the wise, don’t be that person commuting into a trip, they will know. A friend of mine during his probationary interview with the CP was scolded for showing up to a trip with one hour to spare.
I’ve had several war stories with brown tails canceling two days prior and having a huge problem trying to get to ANC.
I had to eat a 1,200 dollar one way ticket once cus all my other routes where unavailable.
Some routes like, ANC, MIA and ONT, fill up quick. They will tell you that “there is always no shows so don’t worry”…. Though 90% true, on probation I wouldn’t gamble nor count on that. Do what you have to do to be in position.
as far as sick calls, I had one during probation that knocked out a 6 day trip, and it was right before my one year probie interview, I brought doctors note and all… the CP didn’t bring it up, but I did, and he said “dude if you are sick you are sick, you did the right thing by not getting your colleagues sick, we don’t want you working sick” and left it at that. He also explained to me the other avenues— several unpaid options—in case I ever need them, they are there for the taking.
like many here have said, just show up, do your job, don’t lie, don’t try to outsmart them and you will be fine.
they do things unlike most airlines but you will soon find out UPS is not an airline but a trucking company that needs airplanes…. Use ur mentors as much as you can if you have ANY questions, they are more than happy to help. Trust me, I leaned on mine for a bunch of stuff and helped me in avoiding making mistakes that could have cost me my job otherwise. As I said, you think we operate like other airlines, but we really dont.

PS: you cannot drop trips at this company. You can put trips on a trade board and pray someone will pick them up. But as far as dropping them in open time, that’s not a thing here 🙄

 

All of this. I won’t compare to other airlines, because I have no direct experience at one, but if you are making a good faith effort to be a reliable employee you will be fine. They don’t want to fire you. However, if they feel you are trying to scam the company or abusing the system, you may attract unwanted attention. Probationary pilots who get fired are either unable to pass training (rare) or repeatedly do some really dumb stuff. Generally, only lying to management about your stupidity will get you instantly canned.

 

The good news about no paid sick on first year is that you weren’t going to get paid much even if you flew.

 

I don't have personal experience commuting from RFD, but I think you would have pretty good options to SDF on UPS (except weekends) and decent pax service from MDW/ORD when neccessary. Last resort, not a terrible drive to SDF. ONT would be a drag with fewer options but doable if neccessary. Best of luck to you!

 

Any chance this could ever be negotiated into a CBA? Or do you think that would always be a hard no from management? Having enough options to manipulate your schedule with drops, swaps, proffers, or makeup banks can be very helpful at times.