Employee died due to health issue but company still asked for sick leave proof; had to apologise later

A Taiwanese airline, EVA Air, has issued a formal apology after requesting sick leave documentation from a flight attendant following her death, an incident that drew widespread public criticism. The employee, a 34-year-old woman identified by the surname Sun, reportedly fell ill during a long-haul flight from Milan to Taoyuan, Taiwan, on September 24. Her condition worsened in the days after the flight, leading to her hospitalisation and eventual death on October 10, according to reports from The Independent and Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA).

Timeline of Events
Sun initially sought treatment at a local clinic upon landing on September 25. She was admitted to Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital the following day and later transferred to China Medical University Hospital in Taichung on October 8. Tragically, she passed away two days later, as per People magazine.

Days after her death, Sun’s family revealed that an EVA Air representative sent a message to her phone requesting proof of her sick leave during her hospitalisation. In response, her family submitted a copy of her death certificate. The incident quickly circulated on social media, triggering anger among netizens and raising concerns about workplace practices in the airline industry.

Airline Response and Apology
EVA Air acknowledged the mistake, attributing it to an employee “insufficiently familiar with their work duties.” The airline expressed deep regret for the distress caused to the family, offering its “deepest apologies,” and emphasized that the health and safety of employees remain a top priority.

As per BBC, at a press conference, EVA Air President Sun Chia-Ming stated, “The departure of Ms Sun is the pain in our hearts forever. We will carry out the investigation with the most responsible attitude.” He also noted the company had faced criticism and vowed to address the incident thoroughly.

Investigation and Workplace Concerns
The case prompted Taiwanese authorities and EVA Air to investigate whether Sun was adequately supported and whether she had been discouraged from taking medical leave. Anonymous posts from her colleagues highlighted concerns about overwork and systemic neglect of crew health. The Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union criticized the airline’s culture, saying the company had not done enough to prevent such incidents.

Flight records revealed that Sun had flown an average of 75 hours per month in the past six months, which is within legal limits, though public attention has focused on the airline’s management of crew welfare. Since 2013, EVA Air has faced seven fines, mostly related to staff overtime, CNA reported.