Some one I know works for BA, and has been off sick (with a sick note) for 8 weeks with a bad back.
He is due back at work next week, and so has enjoyed 8 weeks off sick on full pay ( I get 5 days per year with my employer regardless of sick note or not). But the best bit is, when he goes back, he will work a week of half days, then a week of 6 hour days and then go back to full time working. Very nice, and a great deal for the lucky sod going back to work, but in the current economic climate is this a good thing for the company??
Until BA drops its dinosaur working practices, that have no doubt existed since Pre Maggie Thatcher union bashing days, it will never drag itself into the 21st century.