As a member of FPU, you have the opportunity to speak with social worker Gitte Stigsnæs, who can be a great help to pilots and cabin crew, particularly in cases of sick leave. She also helps non-Danes navigate in the Danish system.
It is better to call once too often than once too rarely.
That is the message from social worker Gitte Stigsnæs, who is ready to help FPU members.
Gitte Stigsnæs can help if you are affected by long-term sick leave and the municipality becomes involved. It can be especially hard for non-Danes who work in Denmark to figure out the system, and Gitte Stigsnæs can assist in these matters.
“If you have never been on sick leave before, meeting the municipal system can feel overwhelming. Many people are surprised by how quickly and how extensively the municipality gets involved,” she says to Fagbladet Luftfart.
“It can feel overwhelming to receive many letters from the municipality, and you can always contact me for support.”
For example, she offers members guidance, reviews case files and assesses whether the municipality has made correct decisions. She also helps with appeals if necessary.
Advice on illness and loss of license
Gitte Stigsnæs has 30 years of experience as a social worker and has previously worked at the job centre in Tårnby Municipality close to Copenhagen Airport, where she has already been in contact with a number of pilots and cabin crew.
“Cabin crew often experience occupational injuries due to many years of physical strain. I can advise and help prepare phased return-to-work plans if you are going back to work after illness,” says Gitte Stigsnæs.
She finds that the most problematic situations arise when a pilot or cabin crew member becomes ill and can no longer work in the profession.
If that happens, Gitte Stigsnæs offers sparring, clarification and advice.
“Members should have a peace of mind”
Gitte Stigsnæs recommends contacting her if you are facing long-term illness, even if it is just for a short chat. That goes for experienced crew as well as new pilots and cabin crew.
“Illness can quickly spread to both finances and social circumstances. I help you get an overview, make a plan and work out what you can do and when. When everything feels chaotic, it can be important to hear that there may not be anything you can do right now, but that we will follow up together when the time is right.”
Gitte Stigsnæs is also happy to attend meetings at the job centre and to prepare members for meetings with the municipality. It can help to have an extra pair of ears present, because the situation can feel unfamiliar and because someone on sick leave may be stressed about their future, she explains.
“Uncertainty about the future wears you down so much. Many people become mentally strained by the situation, and it can be a great help to have an extra person at meetings who can assess whether everything is being handled correctly. For me, success is when the member gets peace of mind.”
Gitte Stigsnæs can be reached at +45 3613 2513 or gs@djf.dk if you are an FPU member in need of help.
Fact box
Gitte Stigsnæs started in March 2025 in a position at Brancheforening Luftfart og Jernbane (the Aviation and Railway Industry Association), where her responsibilities include advising FPU’s members. In addition to sick leave, she can also help with matters such as flex jobs, pensions, international issues and the rules on unemployment insurance (a-kasse) when working in, for example, Germany.
“Pilots and cabin crew can live in one country and work in another, which can create particular challenges, as the municipalities are not always familiar with these circumstances. Here, I can push to get the right solutions,” she says.
