Southwest Airlines Faces $2.3M in Fines Over Alleged Sick Time Retaliation

An Arizona judge will decide if the airline must pay penalties for disciplining workers who used earned sick leave.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 6:07pm

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The Industrial Commission of Arizona's Labor Department has fined Southwest Airlines over $2.3 million, alleging the company retaliated against workers who used their earned sick time. The airline has appealed the fines to Maricopa County Superior Court, arguing the penalties are unconstitutional. The case involves 27 airline mechanics from cities across Arizona who say they faced disciplinary action for using their sick leave.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between employers and workers over the use of earned sick time, especially in industries like aviation where attendance is critical. The outcome could set an important precedent for how state sick leave laws are interpreted and enforced, impacting hundreds of thousands of workers in Arizona and potentially other states with similar laws.

The details

According to the state's labor department, Southwest Airlines issued disciplinary warnings to mechanics for using their accrued sick time, which is illegal under Arizona's Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act passed by voters in 2016. The airline argues no workers were fired or lost wages, but the mechanics say they are still dealing with the consequences of using their sick leave. The $2.3 million in fines continue to grow by about $3,000 per day as the case remains unresolved.

  • The dispute began three years ago in 2023.
  • The state labor department issued the $2.3 million in fines to Southwest Airlines in August 2026.
  • Southwest Airlines appealed the fines to Maricopa County Superior Court in late 2026.

The players

Southwest Airlines

A major U.S. airline that the state labor department alleges retaliated against workers for using their earned sick time, in violation of Arizona's sick leave law.

Industrial Commission of Arizona's Labor Department

The state agency that investigated the complaints against Southwest Airlines and sided with the workers, issuing over $2.3 million in fines against the airline.

Lee Seham

An attorney representing some of the Southwest Airlines mechanics who filed complaints over the alleged retaliation for using sick time.

27 Airline Mechanics

A group of Southwest Airlines mechanics from cities across Arizona, including Phoenix, Glendale, Goodyear, Mesa, Sun City, Gilbert and Queen Creek, who are involved in the case against the airline.

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What they’re saying

“Aircraft mechanics who make our planes airworthy should not be forced to go to work when they are sick, especially when they have a surplus in their earned sick leave bank.”

— Lee Seham, Attorney representing Southwest Airlines workers (abc15.com)

“Arizona adopted this law because we don't want sick people coming to work to spread contagion, to harm their health even more.”

— Lee Seham, Attorney representing Southwest Airlines workers (abc15.com)

“They're living under a shadow for having used sick leave that they earned.”

— Lee Seham, Attorney representing Southwest Airlines workers (abc15.com)

What’s next

The Maricopa County judge has not yet set a timeline for a decision on Southwest Airlines' appeal of the $2.3 million in fines.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between employers and workers over the use of earned sick time, especially in critical industries like aviation. The outcome could set an important precedent for how state sick leave laws are interpreted and enforced, impacting hundreds of thousands of workers in Arizona and potentially other states with similar laws.