Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go off sick in order to complete some qualifications

42 replies

FionaSays · 28/04/2025 18:45

As per title…long standing employee, never had a sick day but completely fed up and in the process of looking at re-training ahead of a career switch. Huge company and plenty of
cover for my absence which means colleagues wouldn’t suffer as a result (bloated resource).

AIBU to take advantage of the generous sick
pay and have a few months off?

OP posts:
StMarie4me · 28/04/2025 19:25

You want Mumsnet to validate fraud?

Kardamyli2 · 28/04/2025 19:21

Good luck when you're sacked for lying to your employer about the reason for your absence.

noctilucentcloud · 28/04/2025 19:19

The clue's in the name, sick leave is for when you're sick. You would be hugely unreasonable to lie in order to take sick leave to retrain. As others have said if you do, you deserve to be fired for gross misconduct, plus it could come back to bite you massively for any future job and things like travel or life insurance.

Kangarude · 28/04/2025 19:10

It would be cheeky fucker behaviour

Gundogday · 28/04/2025 19:07

I feel guilty having days off when I’m genuinely ill. I could never time iff to study!

Overthebow · 28/04/2025 19:06

How will you get a sick note to cover it?

Overtheatlantic · 28/04/2025 19:06

People like you will be responsible for that sick pay policy to be reviewed and reduced.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 28/04/2025 19:04

This is fraud. Defrauding the company to obtain sick pay. That’s gross misconduct.

ilovesooty · 28/04/2025 19:03

WhereIsMyJumper · 28/04/2025 19:01

Do it. You only live once.

There's always one.

I'd be interested too in what you're going to pretend is wrong with you.

Iudncuewbccgrcb · 28/04/2025 19:03

What are you planning to go off sick with and how are you planning to get a medical professionals to collude with your fraud?

redphonecase · 28/04/2025 19:02

What reason were you planning on giving your GP to get a fit note? And are you happy to then declare that 'illness' every time you take out travel insurance etc for the rest of your life?

WhereIsMyJumper · 28/04/2025 19:01

Do it. You only live once.

AnneLovesGilbert · 28/04/2025 19:01

What are you going to pretend is wrong with you?

Jc2001 · 28/04/2025 19:00

So how will you be able to justify having a few months off sick. I'm pretty sure they won't just take your word that you're not feeling well.

A few months off is a major health issue.

purplecorkheart · 28/04/2025 18:57

Beyond cheeky. Career switch means leaving the company I assume? You want the company to pay while you retrain to leave. The fact that you are even considering this reflects badly on you. Request unpaid leave by all means but to get signed off sick makes you scum. Thankfully most companies who have generous sick leave also have good oc health departments whose through people like you but makes things so much harder for the genuine cases.

Jeschara · 28/04/2025 18:52

A few months is outrageous, cheeky, and getting a salary under false pretences. So what you have never had a day of sick, that makes you fortunate.
I hope this is not true because you sound dishonest and I would not want to work with you.

ACynicalDad · 28/04/2025 18:48

A few days off is CF, a few months is outrageous. And it could come up in references for new jobs once you retrain.