Your airline's sick policy

[jonjuan]

It sounds like from Wave's original post that SWA is getting concerned about people banging out sick in much higher than historic numbers. What's the sick policy over there? What does Gary think of it?

 

[shon7]

So please explain what Abuse of sick time is ? I have a contract that says I accrue so much time per year. If I use more than what is in my bank, then I will not be paid for additional sick days taken. I think the balance was struck during negotiation. I can't wait to hear the mindset of using accumulated sick days is "Abuse" of the system. I guess I would have a problem with it, if the same people are always "sick" during holidays, but otherwise, I feel that it is your time to burn if needed...

you should move to France.

 

[AC560]

I can't wait to hear the mindset of using accumulated sick days is "Abuse" of the system.

Because the company allows you to accrue sick days so if you should have a catastrophic illness it wouldn't financially devastate you. This however doesn't mean that you can use these as time off whenever you feel like or when you would like to punish the company.

One of the largest expenses companies have is unplanned time off and that is especially true in the airline world where a good chunk of the work force just sits around waiting for people to call in sick (i.e. people sitting reserve). This kills profits which kills companies.

If you want time off negotiate for that but don't ask for sick time and then use it as a holiday bank.

 

[fam62c]

Because the company allows you to accrue sick days so if you should have a catastrophic illness it wouldn't financially devastate you. This however doesn't mean that you can use these as time off whenever you feel like or when you would like to punish the company.

One of the largest expenses companies have is unplanned time off and that is especially true in the airline world where a good chunk of the work force just sits around waiting for people to call in sick (i.e. people sitting reserve). This kills profits which kills companies.

If you want time off negotiate for that but don't ask for sick time and then use it as a holiday bank.

Well said, I totally agree. If you are too sick to work stay home, if you are not show up and do your job. Benefits that get abused get reduced or eliminated.

 

[crxpilot]

Allegiant always pays you 70 hours a month but anything above that is lost on sick calls unless you want to use your Paid Time Off balance. So we have guys who are seemingly permanently sick and still get paid (and will till they are 65 according to our work agreement). Certainly not perfect, but definitely not a bad policy.

 

[Bringupthebird]

One of the largest expenses companies have is unplanned time off and that is especially true in the airline world where a good chunk of the work force just sits around waiting for people to call in sick (i.e. people sitting reserve). This kills profits which kills companies.

No, the companies aren't hiring temproary workers to cover for unplanned absences. What they want to reduce is the financial obligation to the pilots that they have to carry on the books whether they use it or not. It's similar to the argument they make for landing with too much fuel and how much it costs to carry so-called "unnecessary fuel".

 

[T-1GUY]

I see the young guys are gunning for me.:laugh: I guess they won't mind when the same company pays the executive's yearly bonuses, and then turns around and use the bankruptcy rules to avoid paying those pesky pension obligations...

The best company I ever worked for had a policy of PTO days. They were not called sick days. Use them as you see fit. It was part of my overall compensation package.

 

[fam62c]

I see the young guys are gunning for me.:laugh: I guess they won't mind when the same company pays the executive's yearly bonuses, and then turns around and use the bankruptcy rules to avoid paying those pesky pension obligations...

The best company I ever worked for had a policy of PTO days. They were not called sick days. Use them as you see fit. It was part of my overall compensation package.

I think the PTO system has merit, it's used in many other industries. I wish that vacation could be used in something other than weekly blocks as well. It would be nice to have some days of "flex" vacation that could be used here and there if there was coverage available. From what I understand about the JB system it sounds interesting but I don't know all the details.

 

[waveflyer]

I think the sick leave statistics would be hard to find. Wave, do you not believe GK when he says it's a problem? The question will be whether they try to solve the problem with incentives or do it punitively.

I don't not believe him, and I never said I didn't. I'm confusing my double negatives, but I trust Gary without hesitation. IMO, we ought not be industry average- we get paid well enough and treated well enough, and scheduled well enough that we ought to have far fewer sick calls than others- but we are much higher. That, IMO steals credibility from us. Then again, we also tend to fly more than most- that'll increase it.

But I don't have a baseline for other airlines- so I was curious. I do remember other major airline pilots being able to retire as much as a year early due to their sick bank accrual-

I also think it will be interesting during negotiations- and have noticed that we do have incentives for calling in. Use it or lose it being #1. A well placed sick call can make you legal for more lucrative flying. Etc. but I'm reserving any opinions and am curious how it'll play out.

What I can't stand, are employees who give away all their flying and still receive benefits from us. That's crazy to me.

 

[Dash Power]

What I can't stand, are employees who give away all their flying and still receive benefits from us. That's crazy to me.

But why? Within our contract are work rules that require to build so many lines of flying that require X amount of employees to bid for. Same with the flight attendants. Then some of those people are able to give away their time because, again, or contracts work rules.

You may think of solutions to this problem like building 110 trips line averages but most of us do not want that either.

There is no reason to be frustrated with something that does not cost the company any more than if that employee flew their line.

Before you go through the roof, keep in mind it is OUR contracts that creates what frustrates you and changing what you are suggesting is largely unpopular.

 

[$$$4nothin]

The above poster was correct about JB. As a new guy you accrue 9 hours a month. The accrual rate increases with longevity. This is your vacation time, sick time bank, and paid time off bank. You can cash in any time over 100 hours in at time and a half at your current pay rate. Any time over 200 hours is automatically cashed in for you at time and a half.

This system works very well for those of us that don't have kids and are not sick very much. However for those that have multiple kids (that do get sick), and guys that actually are sick themselves, this doesn't leave them with much time to take a vacation. Short version is some guys like this system, and some don't.

 

[Chairman]

VX: very liberal policy. No form of accrual for sick days/hours.....you call in sick and you get the pay value of the trip. A positive space r/t ticket for employee and family as a bonus for no sick calls during certain periods of the year.

Not exactly true....It was a priority space available ticket not PS, and after 6 days for the same even you go off the payroll and on to STD. So call in for two 4 days trips with the flu and only get paid for 6 days only.

 

[HDA]

Not exactly true....It was a priority space available ticket not PS, and after 6 days for the same even you go off the payroll and on to STD. So call in for t***************o 4 days trips with the flu and only get paid for 6 days only.

Your right. I wasnt going into details...just a general statement on our policy. Thanks for adding your 2 cents.

 

[AC560]

No, the companies aren't hiring temproary workers to cover for unplanned absences.

What do you think is the reason for the majority of crews sitting reserve?

What they want to reduce is the financial obligation to the pilots that they have to carry on the books whether they use it or not. It's similar to the argument they make for landing with too much fuel and how much it costs to carry so-called "unnecessary fuel".

Sick time depending on the contract isn't generally a liability to the balance sheet (in non-contractual labor situations it is almost zero impact to the balance sheet). If you have 1000hrs of sick time and I fire you, lay you off, or you quit unused sick time is often forfeited. Unused vacation time on the other hand has to be paid out generally and it is and can be a rather large liability to the balance sheet. One of the best ways to bulk a balance sheet up in Q1 is to get all your managers to take 2-3 weeks of vacation.

Sick time again isn't something you earn and are owed, ideally nobody ever uses any of it because nobody is sick. PTO is PTO and sick is sick.

 

[outerlimits]

Sick time again isn't something you earn and are owed, ideally nobody ever uses any of it because nobody is sick. PTO is PTO and sick is sick.

I think this statement could have a thread of its own.

Somewill disagree with you on this . Others would agree.