Holiday Absence Certificate

Pursuant to section 13.C.4. of our Contract, the company has provided notification that an Absence Certificate will be required for the Christmas holiday, defined in our Contract as including December 20th to January 4th. Please note that, unlike the company’s weekend absence certificate policy from this summer, which was issued in violation of our Contract, this holiday policy is permitted.

During this time, Flight Attendants will be required to provide an Absence Certificate for sick calls occurring during this time unless the Flight Attendant has had no absences in the prior twelve (12) calendar month period.

The following is our understanding of the requirements:

When using sick leave during the designated holiday period (that is, without approved family leave), whether paid or unpaid, Flight Attendants are required to provide an Absence Certificate. Any paid or unpaid absence will result in the Flight Attendant being ineligible to receive the holiday bonus credit.

In terms of Family Medical Leave usage, the following guidelines apply:

• Flight Attendants using FMLA with sick pay for their own personal medical situation are required to provide the Absence Certificate if the absence originates
  during the holiday period.
• Flight Attendants using unpaid FMLA for their own personal medical situation are not required to provide the Absence Certificate if the absence originates during the holiday period.
• Flight Attendants using FMLA to care for an eligible family member, which must be unpaid, are not required to provide an absence certificate if the absence originates during the holiday period.