Monday, January 27, 2025 United Airlines new 8-hour sick policy for flight attendants sparks legal battles and union disputes over fairness and operational integrity. United Airlines has implemented a stringent policy requiring flight attendants to notify the airline eight hours in advance if they are unable to work due to illness. This policy has sparked disputes with the union and led to legal challenges, focusing on maintaining the reliability of flight schedules but raising issues about fairness and the rights of workers.
The airline’s management of this policy includes issuing performance warnings for notifications that don’t meet the time requirement, a practice upheld as legal. Despite resistance from the union, United continues to apply these measures to tackle operational challenges and lessen service interruptions. United Airlines’ 8-Hour Notice Requirement Under this policy, United Airlines mandates that flight attendants provide a minimum of eight hours’ notice for illness-related absences.
Failure to comply can result in attendance points and performance warnings, with excessive points over a 12-month period potentially leading to dismissal. The repercussions of performance warnings are severe. Even without sufficient points for dismissal, these warnings can still escalate to further disciplinary actions.
In exceptional cases, United may choose to overlook a warning, although the validity of such emergencies may be scrutinized. Implemented in 2022, the po.
