Plus ca change. I left the aviation industry after 28 years of professional flying because my (various company) terms and conditions had steadily eroded virtually from day one. No the job isn't what it once was....but that's true of many jobs today. When I flew for a living I also used to bang on about how my liveliehood was dependant on six monthly medicals and proficiency checks and how hard doneby I (we) all were and how no other profession was subject to such stringent working conditions. Well, I've since found out that's not entirely true. Used to be we all retired earlier than the general population and so got paid a bit more to compensate for the loss of 5 or 10 years salary. That tends not to be so true now and in any case medical science has moved on quite a lot, so (and I'll whisper this) in most cases it's actually quite difficult to lose your medical. Six monthly proficiency checks are part of the job, accept it or leave.
From a new perspective I now realise that, frankly, I was a bit of a prima donna ~ mind you I wasn't alone, most of my colleagues were as well, in some shape or form. We all felt that 'the airline' just would'nt exist without us...actually an airline is an organisation made up of many components, and if any one doesn't function properly then the whole comes to a grinding halt. We also felt that the 'company' owed us a living...it never did and it never will, I'm afraid.
I peruse PPrune from time to time, mainly to remind myself why I got out of flying if I'm ever tempted by nostalgic thoughts, particularly if business is a bit slow. I'm not amazed to find the same, blinkered opinions that I used to hold so dear and consequently always come away feeling that I made the right decision at the right time, for me.
For those who still enjoy it all, well enjoy it. Be aware that the job will involve being 'shafted' by management/crewing et al, be aware that the job does involve having an unsettled social life/long duty days/night stops. If you like it, fine, if you don't then be aware that the job has always been the same and you're not going to change it, not by reasoned argument, wingeing or 'taking sickies'. Pilots always have and always will 'look after numero uno'. I'm not sure why that's particularly true of aviation ~the folks who are on a good deal seem to muster a collective will to do something to further improve their lot whilst those at the bottom of the pile seem unable to act collectively. Perhaps it's got something to do with the fact that our training always emphasised the 'responsibility thing', anyway, whatever.
As for 'Flying Fiona', well~personally I wouldn't let on in public that I took sickies~apart from the fact that,yes, management might find out and I suspect that they would find grounds to terminate your career~but if I had ever worked with somebody who (apparently) took regular sick days which most likely had a negative effect on what was already a sporadic and chaotic social life I think I would have become an 'equal-opportunity smack in the teether'.