Rumor has it that the Flu hit Dallas hard this X'mas

[AAStew]

I do not see that as a valid comparison. On an aircraft, the passengers may have needs at any given time. At Crew skd, there are certain times when certain actions must occur
Not sure how calling is sick when your not during the holidays is the same as me surfing the net when it’s slow can be compared but hey, it’s a free world.

It is still against company policy. Is one worse than the other, possibly. Are they both still punishable up to and including termination, yes.

 

[eolesen]

From the employee handbook:The use of company time, material, or facilities for purposes not directly related to company business, or the removal or borrowing of company property without permission is prohibited

Also from the handbook: Violations of any of the American Airlines Rules of Conduct (listed above) or any of the policies in the American Airlines Standards of Business Conduct could be grounds for immediate termination depending on the severity of the incident or offense and the employee's record.

Use of company time/materials for non-company business is more targeted towards people who:

1) run a side business on company time/computers
2) make hundreds of photocopies for their church group with a company copier machine
3) use company tools (and auto shop mechanics) to fix their personal car
4) use company phones for personal toll calls
5) sending Christmas presents using company FedEx accounts, or personal mail using company postage meters

Those are just a few examples I know of.

I would say there is most certainly a policy against use of the internet on company time and company computers for non company business.

It's actually the opposite. It has been a while since I saw it, but there is an acceptable internet use policy in writing somewhere on Jetnet.

I know this because someone (who still participates on this board and shall remain shameless) tried to get me fired a few years back. The acceptable use policy was brought to light by IT, and HR confirmed that recreational web browsing is permissible as long as it does not constitute a conflict of interest or interfere with work performance.

 

[Garfield1966]

What he said.

 

[Wretched Wrench]

There is no way they can fire you for being honestly sick.

In my dept, it has been done and upheld by arbitrators. However, multiple occurrences were involved, all legitimate.

 

[eolesen]

There is no way they can fire you for being honestly sick.

Unless it's specifically prohibited by contract, then yes, you really can be fired for being sick, honest or not. And it's perfectly legal:

Although an employer is prohibited from firing an employee because of a disability as long as it does not impair his job performance, he is not obliged to maintain in employment an employee whose health problems cause poor attendance or otherwise interfere with his or her ability to carry out the work.

Even in California, which has the most labor friendly laws in the country with regard to sick leave, once you've exhausted your FMLA, you can be fired for being excessively sick.

Whether or not it's the right thing to do is another question altogether.