Air Canada....Four Year LOA??

[Doc]

Did I get that right? There are chaps at the bottom end of the seniority list, taking four year leaves of absence?
Is there any truth to that at all?
Is this instead of laying guys off?
Thoughts?

[Rudy]

This sounds like it might be a good strategy. Go grab a seniority number. Then leave, and go back to your six figure 704/5 or corporate jet job. When all this blows over, come back, and step into the left seat of the airplane you used to be a RP on. Possible? Hopefully it works out that way for those involved.

[sepia]

True, there is a SLOA option in effect. Not sure if the leaves are still available at this point, I've heard mixed rumours. It might depend on what fleet, or what seat your in. I really see very few negatives from the special leave program. Really stretching looking for negatives this is all I can come up with.


1. People junior to you bail out, effectively reducing your seniority. A surprisingly few people can have a tremendous impact if you're near the bottom.

2. The companies training costs are written off, and they'll have to put you through a full course when you come back too.

3. Makes it difficult for the company to determine staffing levels when people return at different times. People don't always take the full leave. Some people try and extend the leave at the last minute.

4. You lose pensionable time (okay, stop laughing). The pension buy back is at an extreme cost, so unless you're going somewhere to make an absolutely fortune it may not be worth it. Anyone knowing where you can leave to make an absolute fortune please PM me.

5. Once you're out the door, there's no coming back until they need to hire. So you my cross the street and find out that the grass isn't greener. It would certainly suck to leave and wish you hadn't. Sipping on a coffee and having hot meals brought to you may have lost it's charm. However, not getting coffee and hot meals will certainly have you remembering how good it was.

[lawndart]

With regards to 5.) above, there is a 90 day notice that the employee can give and come back at any time.

To that end:

6. Your time away puts you no further up the years of service matrix. So you will still come back on lowly flat salary (in the example of folks recently hired taking the leave).

[sepia]

With regards to 5.) above, there is a 90 day notice that the employee can give and come back at any time.

To that end:

6. Your time away puts you no further up the years of service matrix. So you will still come back on lowly flat salary (in the example of folks recently hired taking the leave).

I stand corrected on point 5. I didn't realize it was so easy to come back.

[Doc]

With regards to 5.) above, there is a 90 day notice that the employee can give and come back at any time.

To that end:

6. Your time away puts you no further up the years of service matrix. So you will still come back on lowly flat salary (in the example of folks recently hired taking the leave).

I stand corrected on point 5. I didn't realize it was so easy to come back.

He stated, as he scampered out the door to that high paying King Air contract in Barbados! "And if it doesn't work out, there'll never be any doubt, that the pleasure was worth all the pain...." Jimmy Buffett

[countryhick]

Doc.....a closet Buffett fan............

"And if it doesn't work out, there'll never be any doubt, that the pleasure was worth all the pain...." Jimmy Buffett

[Doc]

Doc.....a closet Buffett fan............

"And if it doesn't work out, there'll never be any doubt, that the pleasure was worth all the pain...." Jimmy Buffett

Not really in the closet. I'm headed down to see him Aug 8 in Chicago!

[countryhick]

Hopin for Paris this year myself, definately the TO show.......I expect to see pics posted of your grass skirt!!

Phins up