Narrative:

Upon exiting the lavatory; I observed the flight attendant against the bulkhead by the flight attendant jump seat looking at her link device. I informed her that she needed to be behind the cart; looking down the aircraft aisle and guarding the cockpit. She gave me an annoyed look and moved to her position behind the cart. I thought that I had missed a change to the manuals since this has become a common occurrence on my flights. I would estimate that 25 to 50% of the time; when I exit the lavatory; the flight attendant is in the galley; sitting down on the jump seat or in a corner playing with their device. I subsequently asked several newer flight attendants if procedures had changed and they assured me that no; proper procedures were being taught and that they were instructed to stand behind the cart. This type of event; coupled with the fact that flight attendants continue to knock on the airbus door for entry; refuse to turn the entryway light so they can be identified presumably because they don't want to disturb the passengers and flight attendants not identifying themselves when they answer the interphone tells me that training is insufficient or complacency has set in. In addition; I have had flight attendants put their hand up to cover the keypad while I was trying to enter the code and even found one flight attendant in front of the galley cart. I take cockpit door security very seriously. Perhaps we all need to listen to the cockpit tapes from [september 11th] to realize the importance of security and get over our complacency. I have begun briefing the flight attendants on cockpit door security procedures; as well as airbus specific procedures. This is not my job and I shouldn't have to do this. Additionally; those who do know the proper procedures (and fortunately that is a majority of flight attendants); look at me as if I am insulting them and I get that. But the number of flight attendants who either don't know their job or have become so complacent is sufficient that I feel I need to go over those procedures. Please reply to this report and let me know if my experience is an isolated one; or if this is; in fact; a rampant procedural lapse at this company.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An air carrier pilot reported flight attendants have not been following security procedures when a pilot exits the cockpit.

Narrative: Upon exiting the lavatory; I observed the Flight Attendant against the bulkhead by the Flight Attendant jump seat looking at her link device. I informed her that she needed to be behind the cart; looking down the aircraft aisle and guarding the cockpit. She gave me an annoyed look and moved to her position behind the cart. I thought that I had missed a change to the Manuals since this has become a common occurrence on my flights. I would estimate that 25 to 50% of the time; when I exit the lavatory; the Flight Attendant is in the galley; sitting down on the jump seat or in a corner playing with their device. I subsequently asked several newer flight attendants if procedures had changed and they assured me that no; proper procedures were being taught and that they were instructed to stand behind the cart. This type of event; coupled with the fact that flight attendants continue to knock on the Airbus door for entry; refuse to turn the entryway light so they can be identified presumably because they don't want to disturb the passengers and flight attendants not identifying themselves when they answer the interphone tells me that training is insufficient or complacency has set in. In addition; I have had flight attendants put their hand up to cover the keypad while I was trying to enter the code and even found one Flight Attendant IN FRONT of the galley cart. I take cockpit door security VERY seriously. Perhaps we all need to listen to the cockpit tapes from [September 11th] to realize the importance of security and get over our complacency. I have begun briefing the flight attendants on cockpit door security procedures; as well as Airbus specific procedures. This is not my job and I shouldn't have to do this. Additionally; those who do know the proper procedures (and fortunately that is a majority of flight attendants); look at me as if I am insulting them and I get that. But the number of flight attendants who either don't know their job or have become so complacent is sufficient that I feel I need to go over those procedures. Please reply to this report and let me know if my experience is an isolated one; or if this is; in fact; a rampant procedural lapse at this company.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.