AFA Alaska

Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

Click here to report an issue to AFA
Menu
  • Local Councils
    • Anchorage (Council 30)
      • Officers
      • Committees
    • Honolulu (Council 43)
    • Los Angeles (Council 18/pmAS)
      • Officers
      • Committees
      • Los Angeles (Council 47/pmHA)
        • Officers
      • Portland (Council 39)
        • Officers
        • Committees
      • San Diego (Council 15)
        • Officers
        • Committees
        • Seattle (Council 19)
          • Officers
          • Committees
        • San Francisco (Council 35)
          • Officers
          • Committees

        • More About Local Councils >>
        Close
      • Master Executive Council
        • Officers
        • MEC Officer Elections (November 2025)
        • Close
      • Committees
          • Air Safety, Health, & Security (ASHSC)
            • Air Quality
          • Benefits
          • Communications
          • Employee Assistance Program & Professional Standards
          • Government Affairs
          • Grievance
          • Hotel
          • Human Rights & Equity
          • Inflight Service
          • Inflight Training
          • Membership
          • Membership Engagement
          • Reserve
          • Retirement
          • Scheduling
            • Pairing Construction
            • Preferential Bidding System (PBS)
          • Uniform

        • More About Committees >>
        Close
      • Contract
          • Contract Home
            • 2025 Alaska TA2 (Ratified)
            • 2018 Alaska JCBA
            • 2020 Hawaiian Contract
            • Ask Contract Questions
          • Contract Resources
          • Alaska Contract Negotiations (2022-2025)
        • Close
      • Resources
          • What To Do If You Encounter Contaminated Cabin Air
          • Issues & Campaigns
          • Newsroom
            • AFA News Now
          • Event Calendar
          • Membership Services
          • New Members
          • About
          • Links
          Close
        • Merger
          • Joint Negotiating Committee
          • Close
        • Contact Us
        You are here: Home / Archives for medical

        Medical Leave Tips

        February 18, 2017 09:30

        We know filing for a Medical Leave or Worker’s Compensation can be challenging and we are working to make the process a little easier for you. For now, here are some tips.

        When filing for a Medical Leave you have several ways to choose to file your claim.  ​

        • Online at www.matrixabsence.com.
        • Matrix application, that once it is downloaded to your device allows you to use your camera to send documentation.
        • Phone Matrix at 888-205-2590 to file your intake claim. When calling, you will be given the option to have the forms emailed to you or sent by regular mail, the quickest option is to have it sent via email (you will need to print the documents). You have the option of using your Alaska email address and print them at work.

        Once you have been assigned a claims examiner, you should ask for their phone number, extension, email address and their fax number. We do hear occasionally that phone calls are not returned in a timely manner, by sending an email you have proof of submitting required paperwork or answering pertinent information.

        Matrix will need your doctor’s name and fax number so that they can send a medical certificate that he/she needs to complete and sign. Once your doctor has completed this form and faxes the information to Matrix we think it will be beneficial for the doctor to send you a copy also, they can do this by fax or by email. This gives you the heads up that the documents were sent and also gives you a copy to work from if there should be any questions or need for follow up. If for any reason Matrix should tell you they did not receive this form, please feel free to take it to our Inflight office and they will help you fax the form. Keep the fax receipt as proof it was sent!

        For those with Kaiser, you would bypass having the doctor’s office fax and just use the other recommendations.

        Our AFA benefits chair is Sonia Quackenbush and she can be reached at 951-252-5707 or Squack22@gmail.com and our AFA Workers Compensation chair is Jill Haller 760-524-6554 or hallers737@msn.com.

        If a Medical absence or Workers Compensation claim should cause financial difficulties, the Employee Assistance Fund could be of some help. You will find them on Alaskasworld.com under the Employee Resources tab. Your EAP Representatives are a great resource, if you would like to make contact, give Jean Sharrock a call at 949-257-9663 and she will give you a list of available Representatives and you can always contact one of your Officers.

        We are working on making Worker’s Compensation an easier process and will send a communication soon.

        In solidarity,

        Filed Under: Council 15 SAN Tagged With: leave, matrix, medical, tips

        Travel While on a Medical, Maternity, or Workers’ Compensation Leave of Absence

        February 10, 2015 17:00

        Our contract provides the ability to use on-line travel benefits while on a medical, maternity, or Workers’ Compensation leave of absence.  In order to use these travel benefits, you’re required to provide a doctor’s release that states that travel will not adversely affect your ability to return to active service.  This requirement is spelled out in section 15.J.1 of the contract:

        A Flight Attendant on a leave of absence who wishes to secure on-line travel passes will coordinate such travel through Inflight management. In the case of a medical, maternity or Workers’ Compensation leave s/he must provide a doctors release specifying such travel will not adversely affect the Flight Attendant’s ability to return to active service. 

        Due to the contractual requirement that you provide a doctor’s release in these instances, AFA recommends that you obtain a doctor’s release to travel when you go out on any of these types of leave if you intend to use your travel benefits and your doctor is comfortable providing such a release.

        For more information about this requirement or travel while on a leave of absence, please contact your Local Benefits Committee or one of your LEC Officers.  You can find contact information at afaalaska.org/benefits.

        In Solidarity,

        Your MEC—Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt and MEC Benefits Committee Chairperson Terry Taylor

        MEC 5B Logo

        Filed Under: Benefits Committee, Latest News Tagged With: 2015, Benefits, leave of absence, maternity, medical, travel, workers' compensation

        Need Help?

        Have an issue or concern to report to AFA?  Click here to access the AFA Alaska online support center.

        Latest News

        • AFA News in Review – October 31, 2025
        • Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – October 2025
        • Sick Leave Survey Now Open
        • SEA Domicile Negotiations – October 2025 Update #2
        • Joint Contract Negotiations Session 8 – October 2025
        • AFA News in Review – October 24, 2025
        • Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairperson & Representatives
        • Meet Our Merged MEC Committee Chairpersons & Representatives
        • Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – October 2025
        • AFA News in Review – October 17, 2025

        Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – October 2025

        October 30, 2025

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, October 28, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met in person at Alaska Airlines Corporate Headquarters to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Heather Reier (ANC), […]

        Sick Leave Survey Now Open

        October 28, 2025

        Your Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) prioritizes your health and well-being and seeks to understand which aspects of our paid sick leave policy matter most to you. We encourage you to participate in the survey, which is open until Tuesday, November 11 at Noon PT, to ensure your voice is heard in shaping our support for your healthcare needs.

        SEA Domicile Negotiations – October 2025 Update #2

        October 27, 2025

        This session was marked by the Negotiating Committee’s strong advocacy for protections and enhancements that would support the Seattle base as a viable option for transferring Flight Attendants. With insights from Ryan St. John, the Vice President of Finance, Planning, and Investor Relations for Alaska Airlines, the Negotiating Committee highlighted the necessity of combining data-driven strategies with hands-on experience and sufficient resources for long-term success.

        Joint Contract Negotiations Session 8 – October 2025

        October 27, 2025

        During our recent negotiations, the Joint Negotiation Committee focused on key sections, particularly reaching a Tentative Agreement on Lodging and Transportation, which improves food availability and transportation safety. We also engaged with Council 19 to clarify negotiation processes and differences between contracts. Stay tuned for our upcoming session with management from November 18 to 20.

        Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairperson & Representatives

        October 23, 2025

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants We’re excited to introduce the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives for the upcoming MEC Officer term. They’ll begin transitioning into their roles over the next few months and officially start their terms on January 1, 2026. Below, you’ll find brief biographies that […]

        Recent Posts

        • AFA News in Review – October 31, 2025
        • Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – October 2025
        • Sick Leave Survey Now Open
        • SEA Domicile Negotiations – October 2025 Update #2
        • Joint Contract Negotiations Session 8 – October 2025
        • AFA News in Review – October 24, 2025
        • Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairperson & Representatives
        • Meet Our Merged MEC Committee Chairpersons & Representatives
        • Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – October 2025
        • AFA News in Review – October 17, 2025
        • Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results
        • Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results
        • U.S. Customs & Border Protection Gender Code Requirement
        • Hawaiian Brand Inflight Service Committee Update – 3rd Quarter 2025
        • AFA News in Review – October 10, 2025

        Local Councils

        • Anchorage
        • Honolulu
        • Los Angeles (pre-merger Alaska)
        • Los Angeles (pre-merger Hawaiian)
        • Portland
        • San Diego
        • San Francisco
        • Seattle

        Master Executive Council

        • MEC

        Negotiations

        • Contract 2022 Home
        • Negotiations News
        • TA2 Information

        Contract

        • Contract Home

        Committees

        • Air Safety, Health, & Security
        • Benefits
        • Communications
        • EAP/Professional Standards
        • Government Affairs
        • Grievance
        • Hotel
        • Human Rights
        • Inflight Service
        • Mobilization
        • Reserve
        • Retirement
        • Scheduling
        • Uniform

        News By Month

        News By Category

        AFA News Now Air Quality Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) AS/HA Merger AS/VX Merger Benefits Committee Committees Communications Committee Contract Contract 2014 Negotiations Blog Council 15 SAN Council 18 LAX Council 19 SEA Council 30 ANC Council 35 SFO Council 39 PDX EAP/Professional Standards Committee Extension 2021 Blog Featured Government Affairs Committee Grievance Committee Hotel Committee Human Rights & Equity Committee Industry News Inflight Service Committee Inflight Training Committee JNC Blog Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Latest News Local Councils Master Executive Council (MEC) Membership Committee Membership Engagement Committee Message from the MEC President Mobilization Committee Negotiations Pairing Construction Preferential Bidding System (PBS) Press Releases Reserve Committee Retirement Committee Scheduling Committee Uniform Committee
        • Email
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • YouTube

        Want To Stay In The Loop?

        Stay up-to-date on AFA Alaska news and information by signing up for our email and text message updates. Click a button below to get started or update your preferences if you're already a subscriber.
        Sign Up for Emails
        Sign Up for Text Updates

        Connect With AFA

        • Contact Us
        • Online Support Center
        • AFA International
        • CWA
        • AFA Alaska Social Media Guidelines
        • AFA-CWA Mutual Respect Policy

        Copyright © 2013-2025 Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO