I work in Ops/crewing, so that makes me one of the "enemy", but don't spit on me just yet !!
For every genuine sick call, there's usually at least one call where you just know that the crew member is taking the p*ss, but what can you do?
Hard to prove it from down the other end of the phone, which means that a lot of airlines will now tar all "sickies" with the same brush !
The policy within our dept is for crew who are off sick to ring us again ONLY if they are unable to make their following duty so the onus is on the crew member.
Now, whether or not higher management decide to take it further is out of our hands. We're just the messenger.
Our sickness levels have improved greatly in the last few months ( with a few exceptions.....I reckon there's a dose of bubonic plague going around CWL at the mo !), but once the sun's out again, then you know the sickies will go up.
It's the few that spoil it for the rest of ya !
Sorry !