To call in sick after this happened

I would speak to your manager. Remind them of your loyalty and if they aren't able to accommodate then you might start looking elsewhere for employment. Do you think that would change their viewpoint? Or are they a company who are happy to replace people?

Call in sick under the guise of mental health due to the impact of the bereavement upon you. If you need to, make sure your doctor knows you’re feeling depressed, so you have back up, should you need it

I know that. There were posts saying to get signed off for 2 weeks as it's harder to argue with a doctor's note.

This kind of scenario would be typical of where I work too, there’s so many people who take the piss yet they don’t value the long term staff who rarely go off sick or cause any issues.
You Can’t go off sick with something like flu or noro in case you are seen out and about however taking a few days off due to bereavement is acceptable in my opinion if it was someone close/special to you. It is so frustrating that your employer could authorise this and just lose you for one day but their actions mean in future you won’t even bother asking for the time off and take the easier option!

This really annoys me, take sick a week prior and stay off if you will get sick pay. Let them sort it out, try and come up with something that wouldn’t allow you to get to work so if you have to drive say something that you can’t drive, as long as no one could collect you. You could then still go funeral as someone kindly helped you.
companies annoy me today as there’s no give and take

You can self-certify for up to 7 days, so no NHS resources needed.

Oh OP what a conundrum. This is just extra unnecessary stress.

I can't believe they can't manage a day, especially with warning, what would happen if you were in a car accident?

You have several great options. My preference is honest and immovable, as being a trusted employee is important, however if it was me I would be sick for the day before, the day of and the day after. Even though this is a training course, things happen and they can always be rebooked.

I also echo the sentiment of looking for another place to work.

Do you know anyone else who has had the same issue in the past getting time off for a funeral who is not a close relative? Are they following a strict pattern?

I just wouldn't work for a company or organisation that would do this.

Sorry your firm is so lacking in understanding but could you explain the situation and offer to take it as annual leave xx

Absolutely! The ease at which people churn out "get signed off" is embarrassing.

OP doesn't sound like someone who'd do this as she wouldn't need to ask and just do it.

As the sensible have said OP, there are ways to get your day off without lying and using up NHS resources unnecessarily.

Sorry for your loss and hope you manage to go and keep your job.

I’d go. Tell them you are taking the death hard and need a few days to get over it.

Who won't authorise you, OP? Your manager? Can you appeal to anyone higher up? What about HR - have you got an HR dept there?

I'd be considering raising a grievance, personally. This is a really bad way to treat a loyal employee.

I’d say what Carlilove35 advised you to say ..

Sorry for your loss x

I’m sorry for your loss OP. What an awful way to treat a loyal employee.

You can’t just take the day sick, it would have to be a couple of days before and after too as it would be very obvious that you were lying. I think it would also look a bit suspicious if you took any time tbh.

I would probably say that I was taking the day as unpaid leave and will do the training as soon as they can arrange it.

Look for another job with a more reasonable employer.

No. It is risking your job and the rest of your life, because they will not give you a reference and any new employer will think you were in the habit of doing this.

If you had asked for the time off because a dear close friend had died and you wanted to pay your respects and mourn, they might have given you the time gladly. Too many people think that the term 'relative' means anyone in the family tree, and that makes employers cautious.

Yes that's right you self certify for first week, as self limiting illnesses often resolve in that time it's only after that you need a sick note.

Agreed.

I'm really sorry for your loss. I am always 🙄 at 'time off at the drop of a hat' posts, but this is absolutely not the case here!
It's really bad that they denied your request
I wish you had decided to call in sick in the first place, but presumably you didn't see this coming?

I totally agree that your employer is in the wrong on this but I'm quite shocked by the number of people that are saying that your GP should just sign you off. GPs shouldn't be asked or expected to sign people off who are not sick! Their job is to attend to ill people not get people out of tricky situations at work.

Not even this. A GP will not provide a sick note until after you have self-certified for 5 days and need a note to cover you for more than a week off. Sick notes cannot be used for a single day.

And if they cause a fuss.i would be looking at a new job!

Don't call in sick. As pp said, tell them you are attending the funeral and non negotiable. If poss as annual leave. If they choose to put as un auth absence that's upto them.

Don’t go off sick. You could be done for misconduct. Say how important this person was in your life and you need to say goodbye and get that bit of closure. You’ll take it as unpaid, and make the time up. Or you’ll duck out for the funeral if not to far away, and then be back after

Do you work in the NHS?