Sick Leave & Attendance Points Explained

Remember: Do not feel badly about being sick. We don't get to choose when we are sick and the operation will survive without you. Follow the contractual processes explained below and take the time you need.

Attendance Points Explained

Section 23.F of the JCBA outlines two tracks of discipline for non-probationary Flight Attendants: Attendance and Performance. Here we will be talking about Attendance.

Points are issued for each attendance occurrence (sick calls, late reports, MTs, etc) and expire after 12 months active service.
Flight Attendants should understand that points themselves are not discipline; they are a method of "tracking".
As points accumulate, Attendance Warnings 1-4 are issued at 6, 12, 18 and 24 points with termination of employment at 30 points.
Once at an Attendance Warning, it is the Attendance Warning that now carries an expiration date, not the points. Points will continue to accrue while on Attendance Warning until either the next Attendance Warning is reached (new expiration date) or until the current Attendance Warning expires, whichever comes first.
NOTE: When an Attendance Warning expires, ALL points drop off and you exit the Attendance track with ZERO points.

Attendance Warnings & Points

Other considerations for Attendance:

While the Attendance and Performance tracks normally operate independently of each other, it's important to note that we may not be on an Attendance Warning 4 and a Performance Warning 4 at the same time, as this will result in a discharge letter and termination. (See JCBA 23.G Progressive Discipline below for more information)
Points resulting from Occupational Injury cannot trigger an Attendance Warning.
Some occupational injuries (such as unannounced clear air turbulence and sudden aircraft movement while on the ground) do not accrue points (see JCBA 13.B.3 below)
Sick calls of 6 or fewer days are eligible for ½ point reduction with a physician's note. (See below)
MTs are eligible for ½ point reduction if secure a pairing from OT while physically present at the departure airport of the missed pairing.

Point Values for Occurrences

Doctor's Note vs Absence Certificate

Doctor's notes (physician's notes) are optional whereas Absence Certificates are required. They are not the "same thing" and they serve very different purposes.

Doctor's notes are optional and reduce sick calls of 6 or fewer calendar days* by 1/2 point and they go to your supervisor.
Absence Certificates are required medical documents intended to substantiate a sick absence and they go to UA Medical.

*"Calendar days" are counted from the first day of work missed, up to and including the day you call OFF sick leave" This includes days off, PTO, PD, DAT and VAC days.

When to Provide a Doctor's Note?

Doctor's notes are never required, they are optional. If you wish to reduce the attendance point value (by ½ point) of an illness/injury absence of 6 or fewer calendar days, you may provide a physician’s note to your supervisor in person or via email, on or before your next scheduled work assignment. The note should include:

1. Date of illness or injury

2. Date of examination (in-person)

3. Date of return to work, and

4. Signature of the physician or physician’s designee on a document that contains the physician's/designee's:

- printed name
- work address
- work telephone number.

Do send to your supervisor via email or in person
Do NOT share detailed medical information with your supervisor
Do NOT send via HelpHub
Do NOT send to UA Medical
The physician's note is provided to your supervisor after and in-person doctor's visit (not virtual) and will reduce a point occurrence by ½ point for sick calls of six (6) or fewer calendar days

When to Provide an Absence Certificate?

Contractually required for sick leave absences of more than 12 calendar days* (days off are included)
Contractually required for Christmas and July 4th holiday periods for all sick calls and paid FMLA calls (13.C.4)
Contractually required for a fourth sick absence (both paid and unpaid FMLA, and Colorado FAMLI are not counted) in any 12 month period (13.C.2)

REMEMBER:

*"Calendar days" are counted from the first day of work missed, up to and including the day you call OFF sick leave" This includes days off, PTO, PD, DAT and VAC days.
Absence Certificates must be completed by an accredited physician
Failure to substantiate your sick leave with an Absence Certificate when required, may result in Performance discipline
Any trip days following the day you call OFF sick leave (well) are not included when counting calendar days for the Absence Certificate requirement. (Example: you call off of sick leave on what would have been day 2 of your 4 day trip. Your schedule will show sick codes on all four days of the trip, but your requirement to provide an Absence Certificate will be based on the days you were on sick leave up to and including the day you called in off of sick leave, not the last day of the 4 day trip that shows XSC on your schedule)
Absence Certificates include medical information and should ONLY be submitted to UA Medical (never to your supervisor)
Submit Absence Certificates to UA Medical via HelpHub or fax. (HelpHub allows for easier tracking)
Always retain a copy of your completed Absence Certificate for your records and follow up with UA Medical to make sure it was received.
You should get a confirmation email indicating that it was accepted.

🔗 Link to Absence Certificate

Missed Trips & ½ Point Reduction

(Section 23.F.3)

In an instance where a Flight Attendant incurs a missed trip (MT), they may reduce attendance points from 3 points to 2.5 points for the occurrence if they:

1. Pick up a pairing that departs on the same day as the missed pairing and,

2. Secure the assignment while physically present at the departure airport of the missed pairing.

Also:

Flight Attendants should always confirm that any reduced point assessment is accurately reflected in their work history.
MTs can also serve as "placeholders" when the reason for not being available for the assignment/RSV day needs to be followed up and explained to a supervisor. MTs can always be changed later if the circumstances warrant.

Family Leave (Does not accrue points)

If you are concerned about your attendance points accruing and have a chronic illness, serious health condition, a sick family member or close friend with a serious health condition, don't wait until you are at an AW3 or AW4. Contact your C9 Family Leave Committee to discuss Federal FMLA and Colorado FAMLI as a way to get the time off you need without accruing points.

C9's Family Medical Leave Committee are here to assist you with the process of applying for and maintaining your FAMLI or FMLA qualification.

Call 720 500 5788 option 5 to contact a C9 Family Leave Committee rep. We can assist without you having to disclose any private medical information.
Here is the link to the C9 FMLA Guide for more information on how to apply for and how to use your FMLA once approved.
Here is the link to the C9 Colorado FAMLI Guide for information on how to use Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI)

Reserves Coming Off Sick Leave

(From Reserve Survival Guide 2023)

"Short Notice" Sick Calls (SNSCs)

Contractually, you try to give at least 8 hours notice (prior to departure time) when calling on sick leave and when using Family Leave. That said, it is not always possible to "forecast" when we will become unable to work due to health reasons.

Sometimes we may go to bed feeling fine, only to wake up a few hours before our departure time sick, and unable to work.

📌 If this happens to you and you are asked at the time of the sick call, "Is this an emergency?", please note you are not being asked if this is a "medical emergency".

Consider the following:

An "emergency" is defined as:

an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action
an urgent need for assistance or relief

So, if you are sick right now AND giving less than 8 hours notice prior to departure but as much notice as possible, then you have an urgent, and therefore emergent, need to be off work and you should indicate this at the time of the call, if asked.

The Company considers a sick call with less than 8 hours notice as a "Short Notice Sick Call" (SNSC).

MEC Grievance on Short Notice Sick Calls - Unsuccessful: Management will continue issuing counselings followed by Performance Warnings to flight attendants who call on sick leave with less than 8 hours notice prior to departure, unless it is an emergency. We were unsuccessful in the MEC grievance that we filed over this, so please be aware that providing documentation, pictures and any proof of the emergent need to call in sick with less than 8 hours notice is recommended.

Typically, your first occurrence will result in a counseling that will remain in your work history for two (2) active years of service. If you have another short notice sick call in that time period, you will be issued a single step of Performance discipline for that and all subsequent occurrences until the discipline falls off.