FO DESCRIBES FATIGUE AND FAMILY ISSUES LEADING UP TO A SICK CALL.

Narrative

I WAS SCHEDULED TO FLY AT XA45 LCL. THE NIGHT PRIOR; I HAD NOT SLEPT WELL DUE TO A LONG AND EMOTIONAL DISCUSSION WITH MY WIFE REGARDING OUR FUTURE. WE HAVE A STRONG RELATIONSHIP; HOWEVER THE ENVIRONMENT AT ACR HAS PUT MORE STRESS ON AN ALREADY STRESSFUL YEAR; BOTH FINANCIALLY AND PERSONALLY. THE IMPENDING NOTIFICATION OF MY SECOND FURLOUGH HAS CAUSED MUCH ANXIETY AND STRESS IN OUR HOME. THE MORNING OF MY FLT; I DID NOT FEEL AS THOUGH THE ISSUES HAD BEEN RESOLVED; EITHER WITH MY WIFE; OR MYSELF; TO THE POINT THAT I COULD LEAVE WITH A CLEAR MIND ON A 4-ON; 1-OFF; 4-ON; 1-OFF; 3-ON; SCHEDULED LINE. THE LACK OF SLEEP THE NIGHTS BEFORE HAD LEFT ME CONGESTED WITH A RUNNY NOSE; AND AN OVERALL FEELING OF LISTLESSNESS; FATIGUE; AND EXCESSIVE STRESS. BASED ON THESE SYMPTOMS; I ELECTED TO CALL IN SICK FOR MY TRIP THAT AFTERNOON. I DID NOT FEEL THAT I COULD OPERATE AT MY OPTIMUM LEVEL. I SPENT THE NEXT 2 DAYS SORTING OUT OUR OPTIONS AND DEALING WITH THE EMOTIONAL ASPECTS AND FEELINGS THAT MY CHOSEN CAREER HAS BECOME A PERSONAL FAILURE TO MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. I CONTACTED A REPRESENTATIVE; AND DISCUSSED MY SITUATION. I FELT THAT SOME SORT OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION WOULD BE WAITING FOR ME; FOR CALLING IN SICK. HE INSTRUCTED ME TO GET A DR'S NOTE AND HAVE IT AVAILABLE FOR THE FLT OFFICE. MY EXPERIENCE GETTING THE DR'S NOTE WAS DIFFICULT; AS THEY DIDN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND WHY I NEEDED A NOTE; IF I FELT WELL ENOUGH TO WORK 3 DAYS AFTER THE INITIAL SICK CALL. I AM WRITING THIS REPORT TO IDENTIFY THAT STRESS AND EMOTIONAL ISSUES ARE AMPLIFIED BY THE ON-GOING FATIGUING SCHEDULE; AND THAT THE PRESSURE WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE FROM THE COMPANY SERVES ONLY TO MAKE THINGS WORSE. THE COMPANY AUTOMATICALLY ASSUMED THAT THERE WAS A 'JOB ACTION;' BUT NOBODY BOTHERED TO ASK US HOW WE WERE FEELING; KNOWING THAT WE WOULD BE LOSING OUR JOBS IN THE COMING MONTHS. AS A PLT WHO FACES FURLOUGH AGAIN; STRESS AND EMOTIONALLY UPSETTING PROBS RESULTING FROM EMPLOYMENT; FAMILY ISSUES; AND OTHER PERSONAL ISSUES; MAKE ME WISH THE COMPANY WOULD DO MORE TO SUPPORT US AND OUR PROBS; RATHER THAN CRACKING THE WHIP AND TELLING US TO WORK HARDER.