Section 13 - Sick Leave

SECTION 13

SICK LEAVE

13.A. SICK AND OCCUPATIONAL INJURY OR ILLNESS BANK ACCRUAL

13.A.1.

Flight Attendants shall be credited with four hours (4:00) of sick leave credit in their sick leave bank, and four hours (4:00) of sick leave credit in their occupational injury leave bank, for each month during their employment to be credited on a quarterly basis as follows: 

13.A.1.a.

A Flight Attendant shall receive full sick leave bank and occupational injury leave bank accruals if they have she/he has one hundred twenty (120) hours or more of paid activity in each quarter of the twelve-month period ending in the August schedule month. Designated quarters are the bid months of September through November, December through February, March through May, and June through August. 

13.A.1.b.

A Fight Attendant shall receive 50% of the full sick leave bank and occupational injury leave bank accruals if they have she/he has fewer than one hundred twenty (120) hours but at least sixty (60) hours of paid activity for the designated quarter. 

13.A.1.c.

A Flight Attendant shall receive no sick leave bank and occupational injury leave bank accruals if they have she/he has fewer than sixty (60) hours of paid activity for the designated quarter. 

13.A.2. 

The maximum accrual in the sick leave bank is one thousand five hundred (1500) hours one thousand two hundred and fifty (1250) hours, and in the occupational injury bank is five hundred (500) four hundred (400) hours. 

13.A.3.

For the purpose of sick leave and occupational injury credit, a new Flight Attendant placed on the payroll between the 1st and the 15th of the calendar month, inclusive, will be considered as having been employed on the 1st day of the calendar month. A new Flight Attendant placed on the payroll after the 15th day of the calendar month will be considered as having been employed on the 1st of the following calendar month. 

13.A.3.

A Flight Attendant shall be able to access their her/his current sick and occupational leave bank accruals electronically. Such bank accruals shall be updated on a monthly basis. 

13.A.4.

Note: Rapid Re-accrual rate increased to 8 hrs (up from 7 hrs)

A Flight Attendant who is absent as a result of maternity, or who as a result of a single injury or illness, has used more than two hundred and fifty-five (255) hours of sick leave shall re-accrue sick leave at the rate of eight (8)  seven (7) hours each month until they reach she/he reaches the same level of sick leave they she/he had at the onset of the injury, illness or maternity.

13.A.5.

A Flight Attendant who has lost hours, within the same bid month, makes up hours lost due to illness or injury will not have such hours deducted from their her/his sick or occupational injury leave bank if they notify payroll prior to pay close for that month by telephone or via an automated system.

13.B. GENERAL PROVISIONS 

13.B.1. CALL-ON/CALL-OFF PROCEDURES 

13.B.1.a.

A Flight Attendant must notify the Company’s designated crew desk to place themselves herself/himself on sick leave using the electronic system established by the Company. They She/he shall remain on sick leave status until they notify she/he notifies the Company that they are she/he is coming off sick leave.

13.B.1.a.(1).   

A Lineholder will use the electronic system to place themself on sick leave up to four hours (4:00) prior to the scheduled check-in for their pairing. 

13.B.1.a.(2).  

A Reserve will use the electronic system to place themself on sick leave up to 1500 home domicile time on the day before the Reserve Availability Day for which they are calling in sick. 

13.B.1.a.(3).

A Flight Attendant placing themself on sick leave outside of the parameters in paragraphs (1). and (2)., above, must notify the Company’s designated crew desk to place themself on sick leave.

13.B.1.b.

A Flight Attendant may designate multiple pairings or reserve days of availability to be covered by the absence place herself/himself on sick leave through the electronic system prior to 0900 home Domicile time of the day prior to a scheduled assignment or Reserve availability day.

13.B.1.c.

When a Flight Attendant is unable to take their her/his flight, they she/ he will notify the Company’s designated crew desk in not less than eight (8) hours, except in an emergency, before the flight is scheduled to depart, and will in any event give as much notice as possible.

13.B.1.d.

Flight Attendants checking off sick leave status must notify the Company’s designated crew desk through the electronic system that they are off sick leave status not less than twelve (12) eight (8) hours before their flight is scheduled to depart, and will in any event give as much notice as possible.

13.B.1.e.

When a Flight Attendant calls on sick leave for a trip pairing, the Company will put that assignment into open time in accordance with Section 7.G.1. If a Lineholder, the Company may not put subsequent trip pairings in the Lineholder’s schedule into Open Time earlier than twelve (12) eight (8) hours prior to the scheduled departure, except when the Lineholder has advised the Company that they she/he will be on sick leave for a longer period of time, in which case, all pairings covered by the absence will be placed in Open Time.

13.B.2.

In the event a Flight Attendant goes on sick leave while working away from their her/his Domicile, the Company shall continue per diem and lodging, as provided in Section 5, until the Flight Attendant is able to return to their her/his Domicile, home, or reasonable alternative request. The Company shall provide transportation when they are she/he is able to travel. The Flight Attendant will also be paid full compensation for any part of the trip worked before becoming ill or injured. For example, a Flight Attendant who works a flight and then becomes sick during the layover will receive compensation for the first part of the trip and may use sick leave for the remaining part.

13.B.3.

Attendance points under the “Attendance Points System” shall not be assessed for any absence that is the result of a Flight Attendant’s injury on the aircraft caused by verified unannounced clear air turbulence or sudden aircraft movement, passenger assault, emergency evacuation, aircraft accident, hijacking or sabotage or for any other occupational injury or illness. 

13.B.4.

Flight Attendants on occupational illness or injury status may not engage in gainful employment for someone other than the Company without prior permission in writing from the Company. Such permission may not be withheld unless their performance of such employment would hinder the Flight Attendant’s recovery from the occupational illness or injury. 

13.C. MEDICAL VERIFICATION 

13.C.1.

Flight Attendants are not required to disclose the nature of a personal illness or injury except to Company Medical. 

13.C.2.

Medical verification of the illness or injury and/or Heath Care Provider’s physician’s release that the Flight Attendant is fit to perform their her/his duties may be required before the Flight Attendant is permitted to return to work when a Flight Attendant is on sick leave for more than twelve (12) calendar days. In that case, they will provide to Company Medical an Absence Certificate from a HealthCare Provider that they are/were unable to perform their regular duties because of illness. in accordance with the following: 

13.C.2.a.

Each time a Flight Attendant reaches four (4) sick incidents during any twelve (12) months of active service, she/he will provide to Company Medical an Absence Certificate (in the form currently used by the Company) from an accredited physician that she/he was unable to perform her/his regular duties because of illness. 

13.C.2.b.

The Company will advise the Flight Attendant, in writing, that she/he has reached the third incident, and further incidents will be handled under Paragraph C.2.a. above. The letter will also state that failure to provide an Absence Certificate could result in disciplinary action. 

13.C.2.c.

In addition, when a Flight Attendant is on sick leave for more than twelve (12) calendar days, she/he will provide to Company Medical an Absence Certificate from an accredited physician that she/he was unable to perform her/his regular duties because of illness. 

13.C.3.

The Flight Attendant must actually be seen by the Health Care Provider accredited physician in a timely manner, but no later than seventy-two (72) hours after notifying Scheduling of an illness/injury. The visit may be to the Health Care Provider’s office or via virtual or telemedicine services. The Absence Certificate must be prepared and signed by the Health Care Provider physician after an in-person visit by the Flight Attendant to the Health Care Provider’s physician’s office or via virtual or telemedicine services. This note must be submitted to Company Medical on or before check-in time of a Lineholder’s first trip or a Reserve’s first assignment including Standby Reserve, following an illness or injury. If a physician’s release is not received, the Flight Attendant will have seventy-two (72) hours after her/his first trip flown or Standby Reserve assignment to provide the note.  

13.C.4.

The Company may also require an Absence Certificate for all sick calls originating during the Fourth of July and Christmas holidays, which include July 1st to July 7th and December 20th to January 4th respectively. If the Company intends to require an Absence Certificate for sick calls occurring during such holiday period, the Company shall first notify the Union and give Flight Attendants adequate notice to be posted for the Fourth of July holiday period not later than June 14th and for Christmas not later than December 1st. Flight Attendants who have had no absences in the prior twelve (12) calendar months shall not be subject to the Absence Certificate requirement imposed during these holiday periods. 

13.C.5.

Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Company from requiring a Flight Attendant to provide satisfactory verification of an incapacitating illness from an accredited Heath Care Provider physician when circumstances suggest that abuse or misuse of sick leave has occurred.

13.D. SICK LEAVE ADMINISTRATION AND PAY

13.D.1.

Sick leave pay shall be granted only in cases of actual sickness or injury. 

13.D.2.

Dental and doctor appointments will not be considered a basis for sick leave unless it can be shown that the doctor in question does not maintain office hours outside the Flight Attendant’s scheduled work time or on the Flight Attendant’s days off. 

13.D.3.

For personnel record keeping and pay purposes, a Flight Attendant shall not be considered on sick leave on the days they were she/he was not scheduled to be available for flight duty. 

13.D.4.

When a Lineholder is on sick leave, they she/he shall be credited sick leave from their her/his bank only up to the number of scheduled flight time hours missed. 

13.D.5.

When a Reserve goes on sick leave and they have she/he has not yet been assigned, or if they have she/he has been assigned but goes on sick leave prior to check-in, they she/he shall be credited with the value of a reserve day. When a Reserve goes on sick leave after check-in, they  she/he shall be credited sick leave from their her/his bank only up to the number of scheduled flight time hours missed. 

13.D.6.

When a Flight Attendant is on sick leave an entire month, they she/ he shall have the option of receiving sick leave pay for their her/his projection for that month, one-hundred (100) hours, or the seventy-one (71) hour minimum to the extent that  they have she/he has sick leave accrued in their her/his bank. A Partnership Flight Attendant shall have the option of receiving sick leave pay for half of their her/his line value, fifty-five hours (55:00) or thirty-five hours and thirty minutes (35:30) to the extent they have she/he has sick leave accrued in their her/his bank. 

13.D.7.

If a Flight Attendant’s spouse or minor child is injured or becomes ill so that the Flight Attendant is unable to report for work, they she/he will be allowed to use sick time once per calendar year for up to three (3) consecutive days, or the duration of the pairing, whichever is greater. The absence will be treated the same as the Flight Attendant’s sick leave, and will count for attendance/ disciplinary purposes. 

13.D.8.

Occupational injury absences which are caused by the same accident and are part of the same occupational injury claim will be considered to be a single incident. 

13.D.9.

Any Flight Attendant desiring to challenge or protest action(s) by the Company relating to occupational injury, may in addition to any other appeal raise their her/his claim to the Union’s designee(s) who will attempt to achieve a prompt resolution of the matter with local management. 

13.D.10. OCCUPATIONAL INJURY PAY 

13.D.10.a.

During absences due to occupational injuries/illness, a Flight Attendant who has applied for and is entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits will have an amount equal to all hours paid (directly and indirectly via Workers’ Compensation) deducted from the Flight Attendant’s occupational injury bank subject to the pay provisions in Paragraphs D-4., D-5. and D-6. above. This will continue until the Flight Attendant’s occupational injury bank is exhausted. 

13.D.10.b.

When their her/his occupational bank is exhausted, a Flight Attendant may supplement Workers’ Compensation benefits using their her/his accrued sick leave on an hour for hour basis. One (1) hour of sick leave will be deducted from their her/his bank for each additional hour paid subject to the pay provisions in Paragraphs D-4., D-5. and D-6. above. Workers’ Compensation benefits will continue in accordance with state law. 

13.D.10.c.

Flight Attendants who are receiving Workers’ Compensation benefits shall be provided with detailed statements showing both the temporary total disability payments and the reimbursement payments of all related out-of-pocket medical expenses.

13.D.10.d.

If the Flight Attendant so elects, they she/he shall receive payment(s) through direct deposit, provided that they are made to a financial institution in the U.S. that accepts electronic deposit in U.S. dollars. The Flight Attendant shall be responsible to provide account information to the appropriate parties to allow for electronic deposit.

13.D.12.  

Sick leave accrual shall continue during Covered Periods under Section 27 until the Flight Attendant is released or death is legally established.  When a Flight Attendant’s death is legally established, all remaining Sick Leave bank hours will be paid to beneficiary(ies) at Flight Attendant’s base pay rate at time of legally established death.

13.E. TRIP TRADING / PICKING UP TRIPS

13.E.1.

A Flight Attendant may continue trip trading, as provided for in Section 7.I. while on sick leave, and they she/he will be eligible to use accrued sick leave to be paid for such trips. If, after going on sick leave, the Flight Attendant trades or picks up trips and they do she/he does not fly the trips that were traded/picked up due to being on sick leave:

13.E.1.a.

If their her/his line value was ninety-three (93) hours or less at the time they she/he went on sick leave, the Flight Attendant may use accrued sick leave for the trips that were traded/picked up, not to exceed ninety-three (93) hours for the bid month. 

13.E.1.b.  

If their her/his line value was over ninety-three 93 hours at the time they she/he went on sick leave, the Flight Attendant may use accrued sick leave for the trips that were traded/picked up while on sick leave only up to the line value at the time they she/he went on sick leave. 

13.F. WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

13.F.1.

If a Flight Attendant has requested payment for an occupational injury or illness in accordance with this Section, and it has been determined that the Flight Attendant is entitled to Workers’ Compensations Benefits, the Company shall provide such benefits in accordance with the applicable state law and regulations. 

13.F.2.

The Company shall not contest Workers’ Compensation jurisdiction in the State of Illinois for any Flight Attendant who is entitled to file a Workers’ Compensation claim in the State of Illinois, including but not limited to, all Flight Attendants whose contracts of hire were made in Illinois. 

13.F.3.

Notwithstanding the above, Flight Attendants shall retain the rights to pursue these benefits in any other state or country which also has jurisdiction. 

13.F.4.

These provisions apply to Flight Attendants in both Domestic and International Domiciles.

13.F.5.

The monetary benefits so paid shall be in addition to any monetary benefits paid pursuant to the provisions of Section 27, Missing, Interned, Hostage or Prisoner of War, and will be paid to the beneficiaries prescribed by the applicable law as herein provided. 

13.F.6.

The Company agrees to elect that Flight Attendants based in International Domiciles and Guam shall be covered by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act and the Company shall not contest Workers’ Compensation jurisdiction in the State of Illinois for such Flight Attendants.