Throwing a sickie

[lechatnoir]

Sorry not an AIBU as I know throwing a sickie isn't right but I need tomorrow & Saturday off work but can't take annual leave & don't know what to say that will sound plausible without the need for an Oscar winning performance on the phone in the morning or when I return to work on Monday! I've honestly never chucked a sickie & I'm terrified they'll see through me.
Anyone?

[Ilovesunflowers]

Why do you NEED the day off? Is it more important than having a job?

[scentednappyhag]

What do you need the time off for? Would it count as emergency parental leave?

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Swap with someone?

[bobbledunk]

Just pretend you're really sick with the flu and you don't want to make other people ill. Don't be scared, get into the role, ring them, perform, then enjoy your days off.

[lechatnoir]

Cant be too specific in case I out myself but I've been given a last minute cancellation tomorrow for something I've been waiting to hear about for months and it involves an overnight stay that would also prevent me going in Saturday

[headfairy]

OP if you've previously requested leave for these days and been turned down be very careful pulling a sickie. There's nothing more obvious if someone goes sick on a day they'd been trying to get off.

[Toombs]

Don't do it, if you are found out it's grounds for instant dismissal.

[tinkertitonk]

I'm sure that your employer is glad to have someone with your attitude and that you cannot be replaced easily.

[MrsKeithRichards]

Some sort of stomach bug, mention the d word, no one argues with that.

[TheTermagantToaster]

Paralympics? I wouldn't do it.

[dikkertjedap]

Don't do it, it is grounds for instant dismissal. Not worth it.

[WorraLiberty]

Is it a recreational event?

[complexnumber]

Can you not just get a couple of unpaid days' leave?

[SauvignonBlanche]

Don't do it!

[EmmalinaC]

I wouldn't do it especially if I'd been refused annual leave already.

And having listened to endless excuses over the years, I would say it is usually possible to tell when someone is pulling a sickie (even without the help of facebook ) and although you probably wouldn't get instantly dismissed, it certainly won't do you any favours.

What exactly is the event? There are other types of leave that cover some situations...

[lechatnoir]

I haven't asked for leave as i knew i didnt have any left & they only allow parental leave with more notice & in week blocks hence not considering either option plus this has only happened in the last few days. It relates to a future job opportunity which I why I can't be upfront about it.

[lechatnoir]

TTT - no but ironically it also means missing going to the Paralympics as I had tickets to go after work tomorrow

[HappyAsChips]

Why can't you be honest with your employer and simply offer to take the time unpaid? They might be more understanding than you expect, even if it does relate to a future job opportunity. My Dh is a company Director and gets mightily pissed off when people throw sickies (like he and the other directors don't know when they're lying . They've fired people over it.

[SauvignonBlanche]

I once got asked for a referance for someone who just been off sick, I smelled a rat and checked when the interview had been - the day she'd been off sick!

[Cherubim]

Dependency leave is unpaid and taken last minute for childcare purposes. I wouldn't lie about
my kids being ill though, I'm too superstitious. You could say that your childcare has fallen through?

[lechatnoir]

I have no problem taking it as unpaid but don't want to risk them saying no & as I've never heard of them agree to any unauthorised or leave that wasn't pre-booked I can't risk it. I'm sounding melodramatic I know but I simply cannot miss this opportunity as I'm likely to be out of a job soon anyway (long boring unrelated reasons), we are totally skint & pushing up our o/draft to the limit & this could really turn our fortunes around.

[Toombs]

Be honest, you would require it of someone working for you. You might be surprised at the reaction.

[CumberdickBendybatch]

Family emergency. Late call, panicked message etc

[emsyj]

Is your job something that requires particular numbers of bums on seats, as it were - so that you would need someone to cover your missed hours? Or is it more autonomous stuff that it would be up to you to catch up on? If it's a case of physically needing someone there, you could ask a few colleagues if they could cover for you - would be harder to turn down a request for unpaid leave if you present them with the solution to who will cover for you at the same time.