What is the first step a company officer should take when dealing with crew absenteeism?

• A. Refer the crew member to the department's leave and duty exchange policy
• B. Gather all the information concerning a particular incident through communication with the crew member
• C. Send out a corrective disciplinary letter to the crew member and the department's EAP
• D. Consult the department's labor/management agreement for the next disciplinary step

Answer: (B)

Addressing absenteeism starts with gathering information through direct communication with the crew member. By talking with them, you capture the facts of the situation—when the absences occurred, the reasons given, any supporting details, and whether there’s a pattern. This conversation also gives the member a chance to share their perspective, which helps you assess legitimacy, identify potential extenuating circumstances, and determine if any accommodations are needed. Having this factual understanding before taking any further action ensures fairness, maintains due process, and creates a documented bas is for subsequent steps. Only after you’ve heard from the member and collected accurate information should you reference departmental policies, involve the EAP if appropriate, or consult the labor/management agreement for next steps.