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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To go off sick in December?

332 replies

Sarahbd3 · 06/10/2024 22:24

I've just found out that I'll only been granted one day off over the Xmas and year new period (I mean besides the official public holidays). Names drawn out of a hat about who on the team can have which days off over the Xmas season.
I'm a single mum to two young children under 6 and, for once, I want to be able to spend a proper stretch of time over Xmas being off with them and doing all the Xmas stuff that other families get to do. Their grandparents are going to be away on a cruise so I'd have no child care anyway, unless I was off work.
I have a chronic health condition which is well known at work (although I've never previously taken any time off sick with it). In facet, I have not been off sick since a car accident 4 years ago.
On my team, it's always the same person who goes off sick for Xmas, for several weeks and nobody seems to have an issue.
Wyibu to go off sick with my chronic illness to be guaranteed the festive season with my children? To not make it look too plan I, I'd probably go off in the second week of December, rather than on Xmas eve. Maybe return second week of Jan.

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 06/10/2024 22:37

How good are you at lying, what will you tell your doctor for a sick note?

KrisAkabusi · 06/10/2024 22:36

You're being ridiculous. You'll have Christmas, as you said you get the public holidays, but you're planning on pretending to be sick for a whole month? Very unreasonable.

Moveoverdarlin · 06/10/2024 22:33

If you have a chronic illness I think it’s tempting fate. What if you pull a sickie in December, have time off with your kids and then get genuinely ill with your chronic illness in January and need more time off, what if then one of the kids has a week off school due to illness in February.

As a single mum with no childcare, I would think you need that job more than anything.

FluffBomb · 06/10/2024 22:32

Do it. I’ve worked 35 years and only been off sick due to surgery and hospitalisation so yes do it.

Singlemomofthree · 06/10/2024 22:31

i think you should do it, kids come 1st

POTC · 06/10/2024 22:29

"How have you only just found out"?
Surely it's in your terms & conditions so you have known since you took the job?
Yes, you would be unreasonable to use your chronic illness as a fraudulent excuse - that's what causes people to be so sceptical of those of us with chronic illnesses and think we're faking it!

CoconutBubbles · 06/10/2024 22:28

Life's too short, I'd definitely go off sick to be with my children whilst they're young but I'm sure many would disagree with me