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AIBU?

To feel utterly depressed and fed up and consider calling in sick to give myself a Christmas break?

249 replies

BoBo16 · 27/12/2016 07:57

Started a new job early this year.

The shift pattern was hard in the first place (often 1 day off in 10 etc) but the Christmas rota has been horrendous.

I had to work the whole week before Christmas with just Christmas Eve off - I then worked Christmas Day, Boxing Day and I'm working today so that's every single bank holiday. I'm off tomorrow but then I'm working Thursday, Friday and Saturday with just New Year's Day off. I'm then back for the bank holiday Monday (surprise sunrise) and off Tuesday. I'm then back the rest of the week until the weekend of 7/8th Jan.

I have had no Christmas holiday at all. I've not even had two days off together. I've not seen my husband really or my kids. I'm exhausted. I'm fed up. I feel physically sick at the thought of going in for three more days on the trot. I feel victimised with the rota (nobody else's is as bad as mine, a few people have admitted this) and I feel utterly fucked off.

I'm so tired. WIBU to ring in sick on Thursday and Friday to give myself some time off and a rest? I'm handing in my notice this week also.

OP posts:

Report

Foreverlexicon · 27/12/2016 08:06

Well you've had two days off each week including New Year's Day and Christmas Eve.

I assume you knew it was shiftwork which required working over Christmas when you started?

TheoriginalLEM · 27/12/2016 08:08

Do it, your leaving anyway. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health.

BoBo16 · 27/12/2016 08:08

I did but in our line of work you tend to either work Christmas Day or Boxing Day - never both and certainly not every single bank holiday. Nobody else at the place has had to do this.

OP posts:

TheoriginalLEM · 27/12/2016 08:09

*you're

Squirmy65ghyg · 27/12/2016 08:10

Do it. Life is too short. You sound very down.

HuckfromScandal · 27/12/2016 08:11

If you phone in sick, who pIcks up the slack your absence creates?

DollyPlastic · 27/12/2016 08:11

Have you asked them why you did then?

Phone up sick if it's not going to affect anyone else.

Scarydinosaurs · 27/12/2016 08:12

Do it. Rest.

elodie2000 · 27/12/2016 08:13

If you're handing in your notice, phone in sick. When you return to work explain that you are exhausted and discuss your resignation.

UnoriginalNN · 27/12/2016 08:14

Life is short. Call in sick.

Yeah, someone else will have to pick up the slack but haven't we all had to do that for colleagues?

LottieL · 27/12/2016 08:15

I think throwing sickies is mean when you have said nothing about working hours / shift structure before this point. My DH is a chef and he went through the mill with another chef who decided he wanted time off on my DH's first day off in 6 days - my husband had to work and missed the opportunity to rest for a full 14 days.
If you want the day off make sure it doesn't compromise someone else's day off before you do, as you've taken your days off happily already. They may not get another chance for a while.

Oblomov16 · 27/12/2016 08:18

This is not about shifts. Generally.
This is more than that. You said no one else had to do this. So why did it fall to you? Talk to your manager. Because this isn't fair.

BoBo16 · 27/12/2016 08:20

I did discuss it with them, they were unapproachable and snappy and said everyone's rota is just as bad - which simply isn't true. It was even worse originally as they had me down to work every single weekend throughout Dec/Jan meaning I didn't get two days off together for nearly two months. It's only because someone else was desperate to swap weekends with me (for her own reasons) that it changed.

Our place is losing staff right, left and centre and staff keep going off on sick constantly.

OP posts:

ChuckSnowballs · 27/12/2016 08:22

What is your notice period?

Can you call in sick and send your notice in at the same time, take the notice period off sick and never go back?

LadyMaryofDownt0n · 27/12/2016 08:24

Phone in sick, leave & don't go back to shift work like that if you can help it. I currently do shift work & was at my wits end until a new line manager came along and I started getting 2 days in a row off. It's the very least you need when working shifts.

Enjoy your day with your feet up.

MudCity · 27/12/2016 08:24

Are vulnerable people relying on you to come in?

As someone who has previously worked a shift pattern that included bank holidays, I personally wouldn't call in sick unless I was sick. It's the nature of the job and you know what might be required when you accept the post. It sounds as though you are someone who would prefer a job with different hours / shift pattern. Would it have been possible for you to have requested two days off in a row as maybe that would have helped?

Can you book some annual leave in early January to give yourself a rest instead?

Butterymuffin · 27/12/2016 08:27

If you're going to leave anyway then yes, I would call in sick. Management ought to work out why they're losing people.

BoBo16 · 27/12/2016 08:28

I have 22 hours of annual leave owing. When I mention it I get snapped at and told "everyone has annual leave owing!"

Shouldn't have to beg for time off that you're owed!! I'm so fed up of it, I really am.

I am going on to agency/bank work once I leave here so I can manage my own rota. I physically and mentally cannot cope with this.

OP posts:

reallyanotherone · 27/12/2016 08:29

If you are looking for another job though calling in sick and leaving others to pick up the slack may affect your references.

I an applying for jobs at the minute and they all have a sick and absence section, as well as references.

I'd suck it up for this week, leave on good terms, then have a couple of weeks off before thinking about a new job.

Lesmacarons · 27/12/2016 08:30

I wouldn't work Christmas Day if I had kids and I wouldn't expect somebody to ask me to. I once quit a job in TV because I refused to work Christmas eve through to the morning. I haven't regretted it. Hand the notice in and try to get a job that fits in better around your family. They are more important and the money you bring in will be spent and forgotten.

ChuckSnowballs · 27/12/2016 08:32

What is your notice period?

rollonthesummer · 27/12/2016 08:32

What sort of job is it?

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ThirdTimeLuck · 27/12/2016 08:33

Phone in sick, you're exhausted and management are doing nothing to support you.

MudCity · 27/12/2016 08:35

Hand in your notice and book in any leave you are owed....this will immediately make you feel a bit better about going to work.

But no, I wouldn't call in sick.

Just make next year different (don't take a job involving shifts).

Redissuereader · 27/12/2016 08:36

Are you in healthcare? If so, YABU. You will overstretch colleagues

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