Compensation for the turboprop, dont forget this!

[ZX14 Rider]

For the pilots out there that are considering coming to WJ on the dash 8 I just wanted to add a nice "perk" to the job that you would adopt upon DOH.

I was flying with a captain recently. On the second last day of the pairing he called me up and said his wife was sent to the hospital and was about to possibly deliver. They weren't sure if it was a false alarm but just in case he called up crew sked and got the next flight back home. He called me and said he was heading back home just in case.

Now I can guarantee you there was no fuss with crew sked when he called to arrange to go back home. I am sure crew sked just asked what flight he wanted to go back on and booked him on a deadhead (read guaranteed seating) back home. This is the kind of treatment you get here guys/gals. No hassle, family comes first type treatment. Something that you don't get at many other companies. It just reminded me of what a great company we work at here that you don't have to fight tooth and nail when it comes to matters of the family. And the great thing is your paycheque will still be the same. You are just given a personal day off and have 6 months to pay it back for the time you took off. Its great when you don't have to deal with financial stress. Sometimes the family stress is enough!

I know there has been lots of talk about what you will se in Box 14 on your T4 flying the Dash 8 but don't forget the value of the job even when there isn't a box for it on the T4.

So if this is what the Teal Kool Aid tastes like, when I am finished this glass please top me up for a second.

This is just one example of how we are treated here at WJ. I bet every pilot here has a similar story as the above and were treated the same way. Anyways, take care everyone and hope to see some new faces in the campus when it comes to groundschool time!

[CanadianEh]

That's very nice to hear!

[N8]

"like"
Very classy

[Troubleshot]

[Jastapilot]

Are you telling me that not all companies out there wouldn't do the same for a guy who's wife just went into labour? I'll add my Wesjet story. I was on a Halifax layover and my pregnant wife(with #2; #1 was a preemie) phones me to tell me she's not feeling well, and it going to the hospital to get checked out(7.5 weeks before her due date btw). After discussing the potential on the phone with her for the next 5 minutes, I decided I should get home to Calgary 'just in case'. A quick phone call to Crewsked, and with no questions asked, and no hassle whatsoever, I was deadheading on the first flight home.

Incidentally, I didn't get home in time as my baby boy was born as I was somewhere over the Thunder Bay area. After 3 weeks in the hospital with our baby, and having to drop 2 more pairings(once again with no hassle from crewsked), we got our baby home, and back to work I went.

I've had several family emergencies for differing reasons over the 9 years I've been here, and not once was I made to feel guilty for booking off, and crewsked has bent over backwards to help me get home every time, no matter where I was.

Westjet's the best company I've ever worked for, in any industry I've worked, and this is only one reason. There's many more. I guess I don't have to mention I've never had to call my union rep to get stuff done either. That's just how it works here.

[highlander]

Since we're all sharing our stories.... here is mine:

I was flying out of YYZ to FLL and back when my wife's grandfather passed away. I returned to YYZ and called crew sched. They were so helpful and caring and wanted to know if I needed any further assistance with my family. I said I needed to get home to be with my wife. They removed me from my pairing and deadheaded me home. About 2 days later the CP of WJ Crew Mgt (P.Y at the time) called me at home to offer his condolences. Flt Ops sent flowers on behalf of WJ to my wife's family. Words cannot describe just how much that meant.

[Donald]

This is incredible, do you guys also get sick days, vacations, health benefits, EAP?!?!?

Unbelieveable, you guys are amazing!

[J Roc]

This is incredible, do you guys also get sick days, vacations, health benefits, EAP?!?!?

Unbelieveable, you guys are amazing!

Thank you????

[ZX14 Rider]

This is incredible, do you guys also get sick days, vacations, health benefits, EAP?!?!?

Unbelieveable, you guys are amazing!

Donald, your post is burning with envy. Let me guess, you work for one of those companies that you have to fight tooth and nail just so you a person can get their own funeral off. Do us a favor. Please do not apply.

[Donald]

Sorry to have offended you with my sarcasm ZX.

Let me be the first to explain to you that WJ is not the first, and won't be the last to take care of their employees.

To continue the stories...

Buddy of mine's wife goes in to labour and ends up being medevaced to a city 1,500 miles away and he wasn't allowed on the flight. The CP of his company authorized him to gas up a plane and fly down asap so he could be there. (Buddy is in management there now)

Buddy working away from base and his contract runs longer than anticipated, meaning he might miss out on a job interview he had previously scheduled. His company flew him out on their own dime, so he could interview and potentially leave them (he ended up staying).

Buddy's wife goes into labour while on an overnight. His company pays to put him on a dh flight, on a competitor, so he could be there.

Flight was in de-icing bay when word gets to a F/A that her husband was in a car accident, not terribly serious but he is in hospital. Air stairs are brought to a/c, she is removed and replaced later in the day.

It goes on and on. My point is, these stories come from 703/704/705 companies, one does not need to get to WJ to be with a company that takes care of it's people. Good on you guys for getting the captain home, but they couldn't make him work anyway. He would fall in to the category of too stressed to be working, and if something ever happened the company would be in big trouble.

[Donald]

Oh yeah, and "perks" are nice, but Box 14 of the T4 pays for the mortgage and food. Those are also nice "perks" when you are a "regional" pilot.

[ZX14 Rider]

No prob, Donald. Glad you explained. Sorry, messaging or posts don't always come across as it is meant to. I hear you though. The T4 does pay the bills. I dont mean to come across as saying accept a lower wage because you get treated well. I have a number in mind that I feel the turbrop guys should get paid and I am hoping to see those numbers come true. BUT I am saying money isn't everything. I guess I am just saying I would rather work for a good wage and get treated well rather than get paid very well but treated like trash. Coming home grumpy to my family is not fair to them and definitely not worth the extra few bucks. And yes, there is definitely some companies out there other than WJ that take care of their employees for sure. Unfortunately, I was referring to the ones that don't. Well glad we cleared that up and sorry if I came across as harsh. Have fun!

[Gadgetgoat]

I feel compelled to share after reading this thread.

My wife 2 weeks to our first child's due date, I was scheduled on a 4 day pairing that would not see me pass through home base once. Due to complications my wife was to be induced on my departure day. After nearly 8 years with the company, I played the honesty card and went to my CP to explain the situation. I was very clearly told that policy was the company would provide me one day off following the birth and that booking off would not be tolerated. Needless to say I booked off and made the decision to leave 8 years of seniority by resigning shortly after.

The company was most definitely NOT Westjet. I do not work for Westjet but admire the culture.

[pile_it]

I had a close friend pass away in a 185 crash in early December. I asked the CP if I could have a day off to head home to YVR for the memorial. Even before I finished my sentence, he responded with "absolutely", and then made sure I was aware of grievance councilling that was available within the company.

He then procreeded to ask how I was getting over there. He ended booking and expensing a WJ flight for me to head over there (we're charter, we don't get passes), and then gave me an extra two days off so I could catch a company flight home.

I was floored by this, because I've worked for a couple "tooth and nail" companies in the past.

[whiteguy]

Was working the ramp at the time and my wife (FA) was working and pregnant with our first. On a stop in YVR she had some issues and ended up going to the hospital. I informed the manager in at the time and was told go home and change and come see me as soon as you get back. Got back and met with her and she gave me boarding pass for next flight to YVR.

Which airline was I working for??? Air Canada.

Doesn't matter which airline we work for we are still human beings!!!!!

[avagator]

Very nice stories indeed. A lot of good people make up the airlines that we tend to paint with a single brush. This subject is by no means related to compensation, and I fail to see your point. Once you have a child thats when the costs begin. There is food and diapers, then hockey and fieldtrips, extra plane ticket and entry for Disneyland... Then there is the 200 bucks a month you have to contribute to the RESP program.
The absolute minimum to afford just a place to rent in Calgary is 40000 for a two bedroom or 33000 for one. That doesn't include putting a way for a college education or ownership of a car built after the year 2000.
Having a child makes you realize what your family is worth to you. So don't accept any less then what you are worth because it tends to have a trickle down effect.
That Chief pilot from many airlines in Canada will help you with a multitude of situations, but they won't open their wallet to you when you are sort on rent and dipping in once again to the line of credit.

[stickontheice]

That Chief pilot from many airlines in Canada will help you with a multitude of situations, but they won't open their wallet to you when you are sort on rent and dipping in once again to the line of credit.

No, maybe not but ours takes the time to post here and anwser a ton of questions about hiring. He has an open door so you can talk to him practically about anything. Also, at WJ, we have a time bank which you can build or withdraw from in the time of need. Up to 50 hours. So although the CP doesn't open his wallet if life throws you a curve ball as a WJ pilot the company will be there.