How Many Pilots pull a Sickie when there not?
 

When low cost Airlines changed the Aviation industry our working conditions changed aswell.

My roster is such that I have to regulary go sick to make up my shortfall in quality time to be with my family. I have to think about number one and put a finger up to my colleagues and company. I do this probably 3-4 days per month.

Do you guys and gals do the same?

No. No. No. No. No.

Not wishing to sound like the model employee that I'm not, can't say I have ever gone sick, tempted.... yes, but never had the balls. Bribed crewing etc that I have done and it works, well sometimes at least.
3-4 days a month sounds a tad much though, am suprised that no-one has sussed you out!
Blu

Fiona - be careful. I got hauled down to EXT once and berated for a supposed pattern in my sick days. Now fortunately for me I had doctors certificates for every day I was sick - but they do have software that looks for patterns in sick days off. It mainly catches CAs.

I was able to extend the digit to our ex-FM, but if you don't have the certificates, you could find yourself in the crap.

If you do take extra days - and I completely agree that the poor rostering will eventually force the hand of anyone who actually likes their family - go and get a note from your doc. I always do, no matter what the problem. It is the only way to be safe (well reasonably safe).

I can honestly say that I never actually took a day off when I wasn't sick - but by the same token, I refuse to fly when I have a cold. Colds are very common in winter. They hang around, and is most unwise to go back to work too early...

What a terrible thing to do!

I haven't had a day off sick since early 2002. Admittedly, I haven't been flying for most of that time, but, all the same, 3-4 days a month is ludicrous!

I presume that there's more to this question than meets the eye? You don't look like a journo, but I just don't know.

Get well soon.

CC.

What do I know I am just a wannabee but I think this is very selfish behaviour (give you your due FF, at least you admit it). Is it not also exactly the type of thing that screws up rosters leading to people getting the call on days off etc, which is well known for driving down moral.

In another thread this morning you said of your Ops director How is what you are doing helping exactly. 4 days a month? Caring? TTP if you ask me.

It is becoming a side affect of working as a LOCO pilot I dare say,
next minute we'll all be having D.V.T.,scoliosis,UV cancer to deal with before we reach retirement if it all keeps on the road its going down......

I think when I graduate from here and get the job I've always dreamed of, I'll probably pull a sickie 3-4 times a month so I can go out with my mates the night before... doesn't matter does it, there's always somebody else to call in :mad: :mad:

Let's hope your pprune identity is never outed FF ......you might get lots of time with the family!!

The major airline I work for monitors sickness in flight crew in 4 stages. Every time you are off ill, it "counts" towards your running total for a given period. After each period off your need a "return to work" interview and after two such episodes you are set a "target" of not being ill for a given period. Failure to comply moves you up a stage until investigations are made to find the underlying cause of continued absence. If this is medical then treatment is arranged, family problems are also taken into account and help offered where appropriate.
If none of the above applies - Flying Fiona:ooh: then a written warning is issued and failure to comply leads to dismissal.
This has lead to a dramatic fall in days off and our average is barely above the national average for ground based jobs.

Oh and our cabin crew have refused to join in - wonder why?

;) Flying Fiona.
No.
The Starmer woman has done enough for the female flying cause already when it comes to upsticking the old digit at those who have to pick up the pieces for her indolence.
I am delighted to see that there are those of a similar ilk out there.
Perhaps we can now get back to the professional aviation practised by men instead of HobbyTime in NoddyLand.
:uhoh:

Montevideo for a while?:p

Surely not, is this a wind-up?

As a community, pilots are increasingly heard lamenting how times have changed. Increasing so, these days. T&C's are on the slide, working more than ever, the quality of life has gone down.

Most importantly for some is the fact that professional pilots no longer seem able to command even basic levels of respect from our employers, peer groups (within the industry) and customers. Some think - and perhaps rightly so, but it's arguable - that as professionals we get treated rather poorly.

And yet, is it hard to see why we might be viewed more dimly than in times past when stuff like this is brought to the fore? It's hardly espousing the professionalism or high levels of responsibility that some lay claim to in this line of work.

Is it any wonder pilots are losing respect?

Is this a case of 'give a dog a bad name' or is it more a case of 'if the cap fits...'?

It is a shame but I know several pilots in the company I work for who regularly pull 'sickies', citing the fact that they are just atoning for the injustices they receive from the company. Sad but true.

Flying Fiona.....

HAHAHAHAAA.......!!!!!

I bet you're really a bloke, right? Pulling in bites by trying to sound like a chick.

Nice wind-up.

But it would've been better if you'd pretended to be a hostie. Then we would've believed it.

PM me and I'll point you to a few sites where you can learn how to troll properly. You're WAY TOO obvious man!

And to all the suckers who bit... what can I say. I hope you're careful when overnighting in Bangkok, meestuh.

I think that you may have resigned from your company, but not yet left. When you have to break your side of an agreement in order to have a life then maybe it's time to leave. I'd suggest that you look for pastures new, quickly, before you are "sussed". Best of luck.

Piltdown

(For what it's worth, I have never pulled a sickie - but I've left jobs when the fun bit started being rationed by foul brained beancounters and human remains types)

If you can't do the roster then get out!

How do your colleagues feel about having to cover for you, I bet my years salary that you haven't admitted this to them!

Not exactly a case of taking a sickie, but I'm sure some/many of us who have been around long enough in this business can think of occasions where we have had to 'advise' a colleague that it might possibly be prudent to call in sick... if you get my drift?

R1

Scrubed, :ok: :ok: :ok: . Nice one.

HI THERE,

Well all i will say is , YES , some do pull a sickie when they are not sick.

This was proven in the last week when we needed a sub from an airline who managed to pull an aircraft and crew for us, all set to go and tell the pax that all is ok, then we get a call saying ... captain was on standby, he was called out to operate the flight and then 2 minutes later, he rang in to say he was sick. !!!!.

Now, im sorry but how obvious is that, he just couldnt be bothered to do his job, even when he is on standby.

Because of his actions, it meant that we had to HOTAC the flight for the night, which was not good.

So, if your reading this, thanks very much, but there is allways 2 sides to a story so will stop where i am.

Many Thx

TJ747

I've only pulled one 'sickie' in my entire working life (school was a very different matter and I won't even mention uni!) and that was more of a protest about crewing levels than anything else. I'd reached my limit and felt atrocious, all due to apalling rostering and not enough pilots. I could have just said that I was fatigued, but that would have opened a can of worms.

Usually I wouldn't contemplate it since it means someone else is getting inconvenienced and it can stuff the roster for a few days if the company is tight for crew. The only one's who suffer are the crews in that case. A bit selfish really.

scrubed and DB6,

I don't think that's the case. Do your research and see what else Flying Fiona has posted.

Still think the same?

FF are you a management type fishing for some answers. I am nearing that mandatory age of becoming incompetent and have never called in sick a single day.

Having worked the other side (i.e. having rostered crews for a really small start-up company as well as flying for it), i got a pretty good idea of how crew behavior changes with factors like workload, morale, etc... Fiona, you are certainly not alone in your behavior.

On the other hand, 3 to 4 days a month is an AWFUL lot to be sick, and in my day I would have caught and "corrected" that behavior inside of 3 to 4 month maximum...

An occasional sick-out can be justified, in my opinion, if you feel that the guys and gals at rostering do not take you seriously, or don't want to waste their time doing a proper schedule... I certainly know that happens... But if it's a regular thing to alleviate your workload, there is only one thing to do: complain about the workload to the ops chief, and possibly face the music..

Never done it wont do it! and i work loco,screws it up for every one else very selfish.Get out now let someone else who wants to fly do your job

3-4 days a month?bet they already know who you are,your next base check will be very interesting!

I think this happens in many airlines. In one that I know of well there was one Captain who could be relied upon not to turn up for a weekend nightstop duty. This is not exclusive to lady crews.

That said, if you feel you need more time off, perhaps you should consider a part time contract. I know the airlines don't like it, especially the locos, but maybe they need to think about it a bit more. Ultimately you have to think of yourself: the employers only think of themselves after all.

And what happens when you apply for another job and there's the all-revealing question on the application: details of ill-health and sick leave taken over the past two years? That might be the end of your hopes for a much desired new employment.

I am cursed with a "colleague" who hasn't worked a complete four week period for almost three years - you name it, she's suffered from it. It is said that revenge is a dish best eaten cold and one day I'm going to eat a great big bowlful, straight out the fridge.

Flying "Fiona"

PP is right - your next employer will want to know why you've had over 30 sick days in a year.

With reference to one of FF's previous posts - perhaps that's the real reason you "turned BA down"??? "She" sure sounds like a wind-up merchant to me.

I was under the impression that employers were not allowed to disclose such data via references, etc?

Maybe not but BA ask you the question on the medical questionnaire they send out.

It's very easy to communicate these things about a skiving employee when supplying a reference to a prospective employer. A "sympathetic" observation along the lines of what terrible misfortune the applicant has suffered healthwise over the years will usually get the point across.

But that's actually still illegal PP and could find you in court if the person requesting the reference were to find out and persue the matter further. Because someone is repeatedly sick doesnt mean they're not worthy of employment or are unreliable etc, unfortunately proving that someone really isnt sick is very difficult and there are even laws in place to stop employers doing this, like calling you at home etc, this if it were to go to court sadly would b seen as harrassment. The worst / most negative thing you can legally say in a reference about someone whether verbal or written is "yes they worked here".

But if that's all that was said, then that would ring alarm bells to me.

Pretty sad eh, and unfair of those that do it, and it's pretty common in all fields of employment. I don't get paid if I am not at work, no sick pay at all so you can be sure if I dont show up there is a very good reason!

Wonder how many of those that have posted here apart from the Fiona have done it....I know of at least 1 !!! ;)

x

Helli-gurl

These things do happen, and far more frequently then people realise. Remember that in the professions people in certain positions, let us say, HR, for example, tend to know their opposite numbers in other organisations. Informal telephone conversations do take place and are beneficial to both parties. It's very common in the legal profession too. A case of "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours", if you like. You can rest assured nothing will be recorded.

My employer is perfectly within its rights to call me at home if I go sick repeatedly - the sickness absence policy is spelled out in great detail in the Handbook. I could also be sent for examination by any number of specialists at my employer's expense if absences were persistent. And the bottom line is that if someone is unable to do the job they were employed to do then the employment can be terminated after all procedures have been complied with.

You can say its illegal - actually it's probably truer to say its against the spirit of legislation rather than the letter. If one has an exemplary employment record, one really has rather less to fear than our friend FF and her theft from her employer. Because that's what sickies are.

Oh I agree PP, you're right, technically it is theft which is why I don't condone it, like I said I don't get paid for any sick time, If I don't show up then I am am not earning....perfect incentive not to do it if you ask me!

I think these days a lot of companies are getting wise to it and building in limited numbers of sick days, I known the guys at Delta only get 3 sick days a year after that it's SSP which amounts to a fat lot of nothing.

The fact of the matter is, it goes on and a lot of companies make it all too easy, it doesnt make it right, but as long a it is as easy as some people seem to find it then it will continue to go on.

I dont think airlines have the right to ask and prod into your personal health,why should you have to put up with such personal infringement of your human rights.
My personal health is private and I certainly do not wish to discussit with some gimp in personnel,even if I do have Genital warts.....

What on earth would you put on your self-certification?
Do you vary the reasons you are sick?

The company I work for has a 3 periods off sick in 6 months and you are hauled in for an interview policy.

However, those that abuse the system continue to do so, not put off by an interview with the FM.

I know of one pilot who seems to think his time off at weekends is far more important than anyone elses. He routinely calls in sick at a weekend, forcing others at his base to come in from home standbys. Fair enough if someone really is sick but when it becomes a regular thing its really, really not fair.

Why should YOUR time at home be more important than anyone elses? You are just screwing your colleagues and that is not nice.
I feel really guilty when I really am sick and need to call in sick for a night flight because I just know how horrible it is when you are thinking you've got a nice night at home on standby and then you haven't!

So Fiona I think you are one of the rudest, most selfish pilots I have met.

Genital warts? Let's hope that poor FO you've got an alleged crush on (cf. Agony Aunt forum) is spared any more of your rather embarrassing attentions.

Airbus Girl - I'm sure the vast majority of people reading this thread agree with your view. There's absolutely nothing wrong with staying home when you're simply not well enough to do your job. It is grossly unfair to colleagues to call in sick because essentially you decide not to go to work that day.

Fiona

Do you have a thought for your colleagues in standby , who would certainly appreciate to stay home with kids and wife rather than being called to do YOUR job !

You have nothing to do in this industry .

FF;)

Was wondering if I could work the days you are off sick! :}

Desperate for a job and I think this could work out nicely:E

Hazarding a big guess - FF is a girl, and is CC. There is no way she'd get away as flight deck pulling 3-4 sickies a month.
Although come to think of it, there was one who managed it for a while..... 80kts will know her!

Don't work,can't spell
 

Flying Fiona,I don't agree with your morals with regard to taking 'sickies',but whilst you are at home and your mates are covering for you,try and learn the difference between THEY'RE//THERE//THEIR,or are you an aspiring green grocer?