Lying that I'm ill

[misscheery]

Ok, I know there was a thread recently on here about that but I believe my situation differs a little bit

Current job sucks, I applied to a government position (not in the UK), and my paperwork was admitted which means I can now proceed to take the exam for the position (I didn't really believe they'll call me for the exam). This is my dream job. Better schedule AND more money.

The exam is on the 29 th. I already have hols Monday and Tuesday due to personal reasons, I can't back out from them now (I only found out today I passed the preliminary and will take the exam) so no freaking way I can ask for 29th as well. I can't tell the truth about the exam because if I don't get the other job my boss will make my life hell

What's left other than sick days? I'll probably have to take thurs and fri as well so it doesn't seem weird it's only a day. What else can I do/lie?

Thanks for the input. Ps: Never had a sick day in 1,5 years of work at this workplace or in 5 years of employment overall.

[Nikephorus]

Ask for another day holiday or unpaid leave. Sick leave is for when you're sick.

[misscheery]

She is so nosy. She will ask for a reason... what possible reason could I have?

[Nikephorus]

A personal appointment - true and vague. And if she asks again ' it's personal'

[Glumglowworm]

Being ill right after a long weekend off will seem dodgy

Last year I had a Friday and Monday booked off, went away Friday to Sunday as planned, then on the Monday I came down with a stomach bug, still felt horrendous on Tuesday so had to call in sick. I don’t work wednesdays anyway, so it very much looked dodgy even though it was totally genuine. My manager did comment on it, even though I have never taken the piss with sickness. For anything other than a stomach bug I’d have forced myself in because of how bad it looked.

Not sure what else you can do though tbh, except as for it as annual leave. But if you ask and get declined and then call in sick that’s even worse.

[misscheery]

@Glumglowworm yep! What if I ask and she doesn't give me the day?

I thought of that too.

I even thought of telling her the truth but what if I don't end up leaving and she makes my life even more hell?

[misscheery]

@Nikephorus I'm afraid she's a bully and she NEEDS to know otherwise she doesn't give you time off. It's ridiculous

Basically that's why I am posting because I HATE lying. I really so

[wherethevioletsgrow]

I would do it. It's one day and people take sick leave all the time when they could easily work. I have not had a day off sick in 4 years so if I had something important that I could not get leave for, I would not hesitate.

[SparklyLeprechaun]

So you can take a day's leave but need a reason to give to the boss? Any lie will do. Flight that arrives late at night and you need an extra day to recover. Relatives you need to pick up from the airport. Hospital appointment you've been waiting forever for. Shopping for a wedding gown with your friend. As long as it's annual leave it's none of her business really.

[mumonashoestring]

Is the department you're applying to going to ask for your sickness records? Annual leave is an entitlement but a day off sick immediately after leave looks quite dodgy to a lot of employers! If you've got legitimate personal reasons that you can't weasel out of for the first two days can't you just spin them out a bit as an excuse (can't travel back in time or similar)?

[misscheery]

@mumonashoestring they asked for something from HR when I applied. And on that it says 0 sick days 😁😁😁

[mumonashoestring]

Meh, in that case go for it

[Nikephorus]

people take sick leave all the time when they could easily work
That just means that there are a lot of people with no scruples who lie easily.

[Sprinklestar]

Call in sick. The world won’t stop turning!

[misscheery]

Thanks everyone! Wish me luck!

[Tink2007]

Throw the sicky. Good luck with the exam!

[Greyponcho]

Unpaid leave a possibility? You can invent a friends house move they need help with, can’t you?

[misscheery]

@Tink2007

@Greyponcho omg, if I said I needed a day off for helping a friend move she'd laugh her ass off and tell me to piss off

[misscheery]

@Tink2007 thank you❤️

[Redglitter]

I might be tempted to take Wed under the circumstances but taking Thu & Fri off too is taking the piss

[Lizzie48]

I've never before advised someone to lie, but in this case I can't really see another way around it. But I wouldn't call in sick, as it will be pretty obvious that you're not ill and you've already said that your boss is nosey.

As you've got Monday and Tuesday off for 'personal reasons', you could say that you need the Wednesday for personal reasons as well. (It's actually not really a lie, actually.)

Hope the interview goes well.

[Ifyouthinkiwillsleepyoudream]

Is it a possibility at all to call and say you re not feeling well and could you swap Tues for Weds, so instead of taking a 'dodgy' sick day, you actually might just come off as very conscientious! But of course I don't know the reason you don't work on Wednesdays so that might not be possible.

[SusanBunch]

Unpaid leave a possibility? You can invent a friends house move they need help with, can’t you?

Do people actually work in jobs where this is a possibility? Everywhere that I have worked would have been super strict and disallowed unpaid leave and holiday at short notice. the only option then is to call in sick.

[ilovesooty]

I think I feel confused. Why can't you request standard annual leave? Surely you don't have to give a reason for that?

[SusanBunch]

Why can't you request standard annual leave? Surely you don't have to give a reason for that?

They don't have to grant it plus at a lot of places you have to book it weeks in advance- you can't just take it on demand.

[misscheery]

Hi again. Wednesday is a day off for everyone here. exam is monday 29th so that's why I said I need to take sick days both thurs & fri otherwise she will say I'm not ill enough (happened before with a colleague of mine!)