Having worked on the ground and helped push (not in a nasty way - supporting him!) a rather large man up the steps into a Saab 340, who had just soiled himself, I can only too well understand the ground crew being exposed. (Never mind the stench the lovely FA and her pax had to endure) Also having done toilet dumps on BAe146s with faulty seals - resulting in crap all over the tarmac, and me with a shovel to clean up the mess...
(Thank god those days are over -hopefully)
Comparing the training i had on the ground, to the training i got for cabin crew, there was never a mention in the ground crew training about being sick at work - whereas in the cabin crew training it was rammed into our heads, sick? dont come to work!
Ive been at work sick as a dog in the air, and ive been at work sick as a dog on the ground, and i would choose ground anyday.
I have only ever taken one sick day - in my life, im one of these people that only ever gets sick on RDOs and Annual Leave. My sick day was not so much a physical sickness - if you get my drift - and while drowning my sorrows that night, i was caught out by the girl who does rostering - who understood and never said a word about it. (awkward, long story!). Should have been stress or bereavement leave - but i called in sick because it was too hard to discuss at the time.