Bereavement while in training...

[7574EVER]

Okay I know I posted a thread a few days ago about how airlines handle the holidays in training. Of course it would be nice to be home for the holidays; but, it's certainly not the end of the world.

Unfortunately I have a bit more serious question. While I was in Dallas for the interview my grandfather became very sick and ended up in the hospital. No one said anything to me until I returned home as they didn't want to put any kinks in the interview.

Anyway, he's getting old and basically his body is just shutting down. The doctors give him 6 months at the very very best. However, odds are it will be much sooner. Possibly even as soon as a few weeks if they can't get some issues under control.

So my question is how do airlines handle a situation like this if you lose a family member while in training. I wouldn't need any "emotional" time off. Just a day or two to come back for, at the very least, the funeral; but, hopefully the wake as well. Even if it did mean flying in in the morning and back out in the evening.

These are questions I would rather post on here rather than call recruiting. I don't want to give them the impression that I'm looking for time off. IF we start getting more bad news as my training date comes closer and it seems like he won't make it through the time I'm down there....then I will bring it up with them. I just don't want to say anything until I have more information regarding his health. Who knows, he could still be around another six months; but the way it's looking that's probably not realistic thinking.

Thanks in advance.

 

[great cornholio]

Usually missing even just one day of class is frowned upon. I had a buddy of mine get sick while in class. He missed one day which was ok as they were just gonna make him catch up some other way (stay during lunch or something similar). Anways he got sicker and ended up in the hospital for a few days. At first they said that he could join the next class, but he was eventually asked to resign. He did get on with a different regional a few months later once he got better.

Right now you say that you wont need any "emotional" time off. Should the worst case happen you wont know how it will affect you. Training is really hard and will pretty much push you to the limit. I'd say that the emotions and stress of trying to get the the services and back to training might be enough to put someone over the edge. The added stress could make you fail a test/oral/ride which would be bad. I know numerous people who have failed training due to the added stress of a bad personal problem (wife / girlfriend leaving or cheating, house, child problems.. etc)

If it is really as bad as you say then I'd say the best thing to do would be to try to delay you class date. I don't think I'd be able to focus enough on class if my grandfather were that sick.

 

[Airboss]

A couple of recommendations, before he passes, spend as much time as possible with him. (while respecting the time of other family members).

Many airlines will work with you during bereavement, but on the backside, they expect you to work harder to make it up.

You have 2 options,
1-delay the class, which i don't recommend because 6 months can always turn into 1 year.
2-Go to classs, on your off days, spend as much time with your family, and do your best to balance your job with your family. There will be many sleepless nights, many day-dreaming days, but it is up to you to balance it.

Things are meant for a reason, and all will fall in place. Life is an amazing thing, and watching people die is an awful thing, but remeber the good times, the memories and never forget the morals that your grandfather instilled in you.

 

[siucavflight]

They will let you take the time off and join the next class if it becomes excessive.

 

[Bill Mostellar]

I can only speak for Delta, but it's not a problem.

Start class as soon as you can. If something happens with your family, you'll get the time off.

 

[7574EVER]

Thanks for the opinion folks. As some of you have mentioned, the last thing I want to do is bump back my training date based on "predicions". My grandpa on my dads side was givin about three months and the man clung to the last strings of life for almost two years before passing.

I guess my parents were at the hospital today and he said something to them about not wanting anything to interfere with my new job. He beat around the bush and didn't quite come out and say it; but he basically told them that he would like for me to be at his services; but wants my job to come first. Noone has really told him too much in regards to his health...but he knows.

One thing that my parents and I were discussing tonight was IF something does happen while I'm away, we could possibly try to have the services planned for a weekend. That would minimize if not completely eliminate my need for time off from training.

 

[Publishers]

I don't really have a handle on today. In some companies, they are more understanding for immediate family-- father, mother, sister, brother, -- than they are for grandparents, uncles, etc. I believe they will work with you. I am sure that your grandfather would rather you be successful in the pursuit of your dream than disrupt it after he is gone. It is while he is here that your concern is best expressed. My best friend passed away and I could not go. The positive was that I had taken a week off while he was alive to go sit with him while he was still with us.

 

[hiflyer731]

I was at Eagle and my grandfather passed away about 2 months AFTER training, but the CP called me in and asked me what i needed. We were entitled to 3 days bereavement leave and i was given the 3 days i asked for without hesitation. As for missing part of training, my sim partner was struggling because his wife was pregnant and having complications. The instructor actually recommended he take a sick day and that when he came back he would get an additional day of training to make up. When he got back his performance had improved a lot and as far as i know the company was okay with everything.

 

[Princedietrich]

In my opinion, any company that doesn't give you at least a little bit of slack for a major crisis at home, like a death or a pregnancy or a major illness, is a company that you shouldn't be working for.