To go off sick in December?

As a single parent myself, it really pisses me off when people do this.

It sounds like you already have at least 3 days off over that period but you want a long stretch?
So does everyone else.

The names are pulled out of a hat to make it fair.
People taking the piss and taking it off anyway are the people that cause the problems.

If your childcare has genuinely fallen through, then let them know and show them proof of your parents cruise booking.

Don’t just pull a sicky because you want a long stretch of a holiday.

In most companies other people are willing to be flexible amongst themselves.

If you want say Boxing Day off, then ask if there’s anyone who wants to swap you for Xmas eve etc.

I know lots of people who don’t mind working over Xmas but don’t want to work NYs or vice versa.

NYs doesn’t bother me at all and so I say I’m willing to swap those days for Xmas days.

As someone who spent over a decade in a job where the Christmas period is just a normal working time (excluding Christmas day), I'd have loved to have called in sick and spend long periods with my family over Christmas. However, never did. I was part of the management team and when people got 'sick' we all worked longer hours and more shifts so the team didn't lose their Christmas plans. So I think it's an absolute dick move and while you'll be happily off, your team will have extra work to cover and they will be 100% suspicious, which can cause resentment.

If you are going to be off, maybe the beginning of December into Jan would be best, it gives them time to plan appropriate cover fairly.

Awful mindset. You have time to find another job if it bothers you that much.

Why do kids need full-time all-day Christmassing for three weeks? Most parents don't do that.

If it is a question of having difficulty finding childcare, that is a different matter, but it's not grounds for lying; it's grounds for looking for some alternative childcare arrangements of some sort, and if none of those routes seem to be possible, going to the boss and talking about this problem and getting some suggestions /accommodations.

I've done many thanks. Including the one I do now. Every company I've ever worked for, regardless of what industry has had decent sick pay. Current employer is 3 months at 90%. Then 3 months at 40% then s.s.p. no matter what wage band you're in, and the bands start at minimum wage/part time hrs.

Well thats not going to happen is it!

I think you shouldn’t contemplate this. You need your job and your employer needs you to be there. That’s the deal. I’ve just checked the diary and Christmas lies well this year. Weekend to get ready - Mon/Tues at work - Wed/Thurs off. Work Fri and then off for weekend.

OP you can have a great Christmas with your family and honour your work commitments.

Most of us will be working until we're into our 70s, most jobs are underpaid and crap, taking a few weeks off to prioritise your young children I can't personally get too worked up about myself.

Yeah, go for it.

And when your employer sees you out and about, enjoying Christmas and blatantly fine, you can have even more time off in January when you're fired for gross misconduct!

Fully agree and I'm a lone parent myself.

And yes. It’s precisely because of people like the OP, and about 40% of the people on this thread given the survey, that employers A, don’t want to employ women.
B, don’t want to employ single parents.
C, insist on asking women about their childcare arrangements.
D, are making a greater push to get employees back in the office.

If you were the manager, how would you cover the Christmas period to make it fair? It is bad that someone is going off sick every year but don’t make it worse.

Assuming you work Mon- Friday and are getting bank holidays plus one day of leave then you will either work two days of Christmas week and four of New year week or three Christmas and three new year - it isn’t that bad. Working at Christmas can feel festive too. If you are part time it is even less.

What is your normal Childcare arrangement? It is hard if it is just your parents and they are away but get working on it as soon as you can.

I presume the OP hasn’t had any leave this year given she was expecting to have four weeks of annual leave which she’s now planning to take as illness? No? Didn’t think so.

Honestly no wonder people don't want to hire single parents. People like OP make it so much harder for the rest of us.

Life is too short, do it!!! Make sure you have done all your shopping and have loads of stuff to do indoors with the kiddos so you don’t get spotted out and about.

You have to plan for this though. Why take a job that involves Christmas working when you don't have childcare?

YABU. Plenty of people have to work over Christmas. You aren't the only person in the world with kids. If you don't want to, look for a job that doesn't require it. I'm a lone parent and work every day except Christmas day and new year's say.

Holy crap.

The mental gymnastics some people will perform to justify screwing over their coworkers.

Staggering.

I know this isn't a WFH thread but given the attitudes of do many 'workers' on here is it any wonder bosses want to keep a closer eye on staff and get them back in. All those poster saying do it life's too short znd prioritise your kids when have the same attitude to skiving everyday when they work from home.

Closed over Christmas.

I would probably take one extra day off, and not push my luck! A compromise is needed here.

It depends on the job, I get 6 months at full pay which resets every year for example. Thankfully haven't had to use much in 12 years but it's not the case that everyone's straight onto SSP.

I'd do it to be honest, I hate names out of the hat because there's a chance the same people will be off every year. Who will look after your children anyway? Here most childcare provision closes over Christmas.

I don't actually know anyone in the real world who would do that - obviously I know a different type of people to you.

Holy crap.

The mental gymnastics some people will perform to justify screwing over their coworkers.

Staggering.

Well don't have a job where you need to be there during wotking hours or in accordance with your Ts & Cs
Or don't work
In OPs case, she is not ill, her children are not ill, she is planning 'illness' in october, ffs

In terms of childcare, why can't you use holiday clubs?