AMR canning pilot's who abuse sick leave

[RS6]

That's the whole problem with calling it sick leave.

ANY time off that is accrued contractually, be it vacation, sick leave, etc... should be called PTO. Period.

Sick leave...that is SO old fashioned.

 

[satpak77]

ok we all shared our points

lets move forward and everybody fly safe

later

 

[Ty Webb]

Seriously, Satpak, since you opened up this can of worms, let me say this:

What you are basically doing is parroting the Company line- lots of guys are goofing off on sick time, costing us money, and making everyone else work harder. Well, I've got news for you, that's a dangerous attitude to have.

At the first 135 Jet company I worked at, we were all treated pretty shabbily. If you were sick- "Hey, sure you can't just make it in? All you have to do is 1 leg, and then you can rest in your hotel room? No, you're really that sick, well, we'll give your trip to someone else, and the pay too. Tell you what, we'll call you when we have something for you . . . . ".

To me, that is a dangerous mindset. it basically says, "Pilots are lazy, they will try anything to get out of working . . . .", which leads down a slippery slope to second-guessing go/no go decisions, be it weather or MX . . . whatever. That's the kind of thinking that turns a Flight Department into a Battered Pilots' Shelter, where the guy who comes in sick, or flys a broken plane, or goes into WX that others have refused ends up becoming the Chief Pilot, and expects everyone else to bend the rules just like he did . . . ."I haven;t called out sick in 6 years" . . etc.

Try to not to buy into the old, "He's trying to get away with something" mentality . . . because most of us are professionals, and behave as such. I only call out for two things- sick, or unable to report before check-in, but by your post, you already had me made out to be advocating taking sick time to watch the Superbowl, or go to Home Depot.

But, like someone else pointed out, sick time is a negotiated benefit. That benefit cost you something else at the negotiations table. Give us a commuter policy, and watch the savings go up . . . .

 

[Slim]

Here's an example of how AMR management "manages" employees suspected of abusing sick time. Bear in mind, I was never a pilot at AA.

I received a letter, via certified mail, regarding five sick incidents in the previous 12 months. My supervisor was new and I was assigned to her group. I detailed the five incidents. Two were out-patient surgeries for ingrown toenails. One was for an ear infection, another for a sinus infection and the last for a neck injury (I couldn't move my head and required chiropractic adjustments to regain movement).

At the time, I was also a company commander in the National Guard. I could identify with her position and effort to manage sick leave abuse. I fit the pattern of sick leave abuse. We agreed my sick time usage was legitimate. I thought the issue was resolved.

WRONG!!! Six weeks later, I received the same letter! The date was changed, but nothing else. I called her, reminded her we'd already had this conversation and, so far as I was concerned, there was nothing more to discuss.

The APA will prevail on this one. Wrongfully discharged pilots will get their jobs back. This "crackdown" happens every so often at AMR...the same results, the same grievances and the same job reinstatements. Remember, one definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results each time!

 

[ilinipilot]

USA Today article

I guess the execs at AA didnt read the article. It spelled out how airline employees have been treated like dirt (duh) and its is affecting their performance, and customer service.

It is a classic case of pick your battles. YES there is someone who called in sick who wasnt sick OK we caught them good for us, but in the process of accusing XXX number ofpilots who were legitimently sick how many did we alienate and how many did we upset.

Now these sick pilots go tell their compatriots about this and the morale which is already awful gets worse. STOP the stupidity and treat your employees like real people only a few airlines have learned this (SW) and its no surpirse they are the most profitable, efficient etc.

This whole situation wreeks or someone making a snap judgement in the heat of the moment, and not thinking about the consequences.

D

 

[lostplnetairman]

American did this with their FA's last Christmas. They fired those that called in sick and used non-rev benefits. Apparently it is a real problem in that their sick calls are enormous during the holiday season and they don't have that kind of reserve coverage. Many ee's supported the move because the call outs made life very difficult for those that had to work. Many posted of this on another website that caters to all members of the aviation community, not just pilots. Of course the union fought it and they were reinstated. HRDiva

 

[satpak77]

all points taken, I am not "pro-management" however I am not pro-carry-your-weight when someone calls in sick and is not sick

a spin off from this, is my own personal observations that America's youth is a I-could-give-a-sh1t society (to a large extent, not all of them) now and cheating on tests, calling in sick, breaking the rules, etc, etc, is a non-event.

I have seen kids at the mall with Ambercrombie shirts and long hair and flip flops and they look like sh1t, walking around with punk azz attitudes and "jus hangin dude"

I read today how toys are not being bought much. Why? Kids these days are hooked on video games. What does this mean? No more human interaction, playing with Tonka trucks, riding Big Wheels, lincoln logs, etc. No, America kids only have to "learn to" interact with a joystick and TV set. Note these are tomorrows leaders (or not), military members, teachers, pilots, doctors. Observe the "behavioral base" they are starting with.

NOW-> Did I play Atari and Defender and all that stuff? Of course. But I was outside jumping ramps on my BMX bike and playing Nerf football also. You see that in today's suburbs? Where are the kids?

Meanwhile, mom and dad feed them a daily diet of Ritalin, Prozac, etc, etc. Same kids go to Barnes and Noble and play chase around the store while mom and dad sip Lattes

Hell when I was "hyperactive" or "acted up" or "didnt pay attention" I got a belt across my azz.

anyway, I am drifting off topic. The fact is maybe I take a more conservative approach to "calling in sick."

Sorry to be a d1ckhead on my posts (looking back on them), however again, I can talk on and on about this stuff (just ask my wife).

Fly safe Ty

 

[Full of LUV]

Satpak77 Needs a vacation

all points taken, I am not "pro-management" however I am not pro-carry-your-weight when someone calls in sick and is not sick

a spin off from this, is my own personal observations that America's youth is a I-could-give-a-sh1t society (to a large extent, not all of them) now and cheating on tests, calling in sick, breaking the rules, etc, etc, is a non-event.

I have seen kids at the mall with Ambercrombie shirts and long hair and flip flops and they look like sh1t, walking around with punk azz attitudes and "jus hangin dude"

I read today how toys are not being bought much. Why? Kids these days are hooked on video games. What does this mean? No more human interaction, playing with Tonka trucks, riding Big Wheels, lincoln logs, etc. No, America kids only have to "learn to" interact with a joystick and TV set. Note these are tomorrows leaders (or not), military members, teachers, pilots, doctors. Observe the "behavioral base" they are starting with.

NOW-> Did I play Atari and Defender and all that stuff? Of course. But I was outside jumping ramps on my BMX bike and playing Nerf football also. You see that in today's suburbs? Where are the kids?

Meanwhile, mom and dad feed them a daily diet of Ritalin, Prozac, etc, etc. Same kids go to Barnes and Noble and play chase around the store while mom and dad sip Lattes

Hell when I was "hyperactive" or "acted up" or "didnt pay attention" I got a belt across my azz.

anyway, I am drifting off topic. The fact is maybe I take a more conservative approach to "calling in sick."

Sorry to be a d1ckhead on my posts (looking back on them), however again, I can talk on and on about this stuff (just ask my wife).

Fly safe Ty

Wow!!
Satpak77, you need a vacation!
Every generation thinks that the one following it dresses/acts/bahaves like hoodlums.
Take a "sick day" and volunteer at a local high school, I think you will be blown away how many squared away, smart, and sharp looking students still exist. Just like our time, you won't find them cruising the malls on weekends.
Ciao,
Luv!

 

[satpak77]

calling in sick tomorrow for said vacation

(a convert)

 

[Hansoma]

I think I'm going to call in sick for this whole thread!

 

[sandman2122]

I had to call in FATIGUED after typing in my post - reply.......
can't

g e t

t h e

s t r e n g t h

t o

h i t

s u b m i t..............

fading

fast

so

long



folks



zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

 

[flint4xx]

Dude, c'mon. I know your employer doesn't give a sh1t.

 

[satpak77]

(on sick leave)

 

[AA717driver]

PHX767--I'm still losing sleep over my "lost" 6 months of passes... NOT!

I still haven't used any of my allocated furlough passes.

Maybe if AMR spent as much time on running an airline as they do on F***ing with the employees, they wouldn't have to furlough so many employees! TC

 

[91100 100 set]

I have no feelings either way on calling in sick if you're not sick (I burned my fair share of trips before I left my previous employer), however, I DO have a problem with folks flying when they are sick. Aside from the fact that you may or may not be a zombie at work, I don't want you and your germs anywhere near me. I hate being sick, so don't come fly with me when you are.

 

[aa73]

Maybe if AMR spent as much time on running an airline as they do on F***ing with the employees, they wouldn't have to furlough so many employees! TC

Don't get your hopes up, dude. The terms "AMR" and "running an airline" are purely contradictory and cannot be used in the same sentence.

 

[AA717driver]

Don't get your hopes up, dude. The terms "AMR" and "running an airline" are purely contradictory and cannot be used in the same sentence.

Yeah, you better go turn yourself in for not showing sufficient respect for the corporation!

Pretty soon, they'll file an Article 32 for statements made in reference to the company... TC

 

[aa73]

Yeah, you better go turn yourself in for not showing sufficient respect for the corporation!

Pretty soon, they'll file an Article 32 for statements made in reference to the company... TC

Dang! I forgot about Rule 32!

Wait a sec, I'm still leaving...

 

[AA717driver]

aa73--I've been informed that even though you are on the street, you can still have a Article 32 filed against you and you can be terminated once you return.

They're probably tapping our phones as we speak...TC

 

[aa73]

click...click... <d-i-a-l....t-o-n-e>

Would you believe that some high ranking APA official is actually filing rule 32 charges against a fellow pilot, for a disagreement on the web site?

S-a-a-a-d world we live in.