Filing a fatigue report, what happens and does it hurt your career?
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#1 Had a duty that left me dangerously tired (late finish, early report, hotel transport ate the rest). Colleague said file a fatigue report; another said it goes on your record. What's true?
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#2 File it. Every airline under EASA/FAA/GCAA must run a fatigue reporting system, and the report is safety data, not a complaint, patterns of reports are what change pairings. Write it factually: hours slept, why, which phase of duty was affected. At reputable airlines it does not hurt you; at any airline, not reporting and having an incident is far worse. Calling in unfit to fly is a separate, bigger step and also your legal right.
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#3 Union rep view: keep a copy of what you submitted. If anyone ever questions it, that's your record. In two years I've never seen a fatigue report used against a crew member; I have seen the absence of one used against them after an incident.