To go off sick in December?

I think you should start job hunting right now and find a new role, either one that does not require Christmas working, or one that does but you can declare a pre-booked holiday which will always be honoured.

This problem will rear its head every year, so it does sound like you need a better job for the long term. Good luck!

But you're not working Christmas, you have the bank holidays off. YWBU and screwing over your colleagues. Loads of people have to work between Christmas and New year.

@Goxhound if OP wanted ChatGPT's opinion she could've asked it herself.

Don't work
Or get a job where you don't havecto work public holidays
Because attitudes like this, and that of @Sarahbd3 are disgusting
Let you colleagues down
Let your manager down
Let down the people (public, patients, etc) you are working to support
Let down yourself
Attitudes such as this just demonstrate to employers why women are risky to employ; too unreliable

Even for those in well paid/high status jobs in the NHS, there is a requirement to work around Xmas. Part of my work is in an outpatient specialty that will not be working on the Bank Holidays. 2 out of the 10 consultants have been told that their hoped leave over the Xmas/New year period can't be fully granted as otherwise there isn't sufficient cover. They each will have to work 1 day over the Xmas period. One of the consultants who has worked the entire time around Xmas and NY for the last 2 years has been given the whole time off this year. The consultants that have had time off over Xmas and New year this year and last year will be at the bottom of the list for next year, and will be the ones whose leave won't be granted when there is a pinch point in staffing.

I work in the NHS. Surgeons (not sure why you have picked them rather than any other medical specialty) get exactly the same leave allowance as paediatricians, physicians or any other doctor with the same length of NHS service. If they are taking weeks on end off (how many weeks? 2? maybe 3?) it's because theyare using a large part of their leave entitlement to do so - which will have involved swapping their on calls with colleagues as they can't take leave on those days otherwise, and can mean working some very intense runs of oncalls to do so.

Nice to see you Chat GPT!

Why don’t you just ask for parental leave? That way you’re not lying, you have no childcare I mean it’s unpaid but still better than lying.

The OP and those in support are exactly the types that we 'note' when it comes to restructuring. Trust me, as a senior HR leader, this will count against you eventually. Its not as clever as you (and your ilk on this thread) think.

To me it depends a bit on your job and reasonable expectations

Oh I don’t know, your colleagues, you’re putting them further in the trenches at Christmas. Could you talk to your manager and try to negotiate more days?

I would but I'd also be prepared for work to be suspicious and for things not to be right when I went back. If you're willing to make that sacrifice (I absolutely would for my kids) then do it.

I’d usually say no don’t do it as someone else may loose their break as a result. However you’ve not had time off ill for years and seemingly conscientious at work so go for it.

I agree! Life is far too short- but id definitely spend next year looking for a new job with more flexibility around the holidays too as you still have alot of special years upcoming with the kids!

Why are you in a job where you work christmas and object to the fact its your name out of the hat? If people are off sick then it impacts on others who are working. If you genuinely have no childcare options, then you need to speak to them, and look at getting another job.

And this ladies and gentlemen is why employers prefer to hire men.

Also if you ask colleagues to swap shifts and explain to managers that you need more time off due to child care. Then neither help you and you decide to ring in sick that date. Looks dodgy.

This is why many employers have three periods of sickness in a rolling year- get disciplinary.

I got annoyed at my just left job when colleagues who have all of their family living nearby and finish 1-2pm, got the days off between Xmas and NY. Yet when all my other family who I still in contact with (not my parents) live 60 plus miles away. These colleagues mentioned above can get home, get changed and still be able to visit family in the afternoon and evening.

Finksh work at 6pm. I’m sure relatives in their 80s would appreciate a visit at 8pm.

But her health is not causing a problem at the moment.

She just wants to use it as an excuse.

you can’t go off sick if you’re not sick and you won’t know if you’re sick you won’t know till a lot nearer the time. Planning it in is deceitful

I could understand if you was working over Christmas and new year but your not it's sounds like your getting more time of then most as it is. Theirs only a few jobs like teachers who actually get a Christmas break.

Alternatively if you wanted to arrange childcare try childcare.co.uk lots of nursery staff will be on holiday then and looking for work

I think taking a month is risky as others have pointed out what if you need to take leave for other reasons? Is it not possible to have an honest conversation with your employer, that you genuinely won’t be able to work due to childcare. Presumably if they’re able to cover sickness they’d find a way of coping if you weren’t there. Also presumably they want to retain you as an employee they’ll make this work, else you may have gone elsewhere. Should this not work I’d just phone in the days you actually need and rather than your own health I’d say a child is sick and whatever childcare you had arranged now won’t be able to have them.

For goodness sake. You're getting Christmas itself off with your kids. It's setting no sort of example to them if you go off sick because you just don't want to go into work!

Is this a job you generally like and want to stay in long term? Are you looking to advance?

If that's a yes, I wouldn't. I can remember the Xmas leave piss-takers I've worked with for the last decade at least - none of them ever moved up the ladder afterwards, most were managed out at the first opportunity. This sort of behaviour is normally a small part of a bigger picture, anyway.

No wonder this country is fecked, when so many people are dishonest like the posters on here saying go for it.
Every CF who fakes a sickie has an impact on the genuine, as employers look to crack down on the cost and impact sick leave makes.

It's like claiming benefits you are not entitled to, it ruins the system for those that genuinely need it.