Of course they cannot reopen your contract, because 'they' have a contract, but if you care to work outside of your contract and come to work sick (during a specific period ‘only’) then 'they' will reward you for coming to work sick, possibly infecting your coworkers and passengers.
I used to pride myself for not being sick and not using ‘sick time’ wherein I exceeded my max allocation and my accrued sick time went into the bit bucket. Then one time I was “really†sick with the flu but came to work anyway (as it was my nature and dedication to my employer) coughing, sneezing, sweating, etc… I was not up to par at all (fever and all) but I was there to do my duty. The next week, half of my crew was out sick with the flu and we that were left were expected to pick up the slack.
It seems that the older I get, the more propensity I am to be susceptible to viruses and what not (something about an aging immune system).
I do not know what the contracts are now at NWA, but at the Lazy’U, we get 75% pay for sick time under 10 days, but are still subject to disciplinary action under ‘some’ undefined policy if exceeding the ‘policy’.
Bottom line is, if you are sick, get well before coming back to work. If you are not sick , then go to work.
JMHO,
B) UT