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AIBU?

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Original poster

Would you pull a sickie for a pre-booked trip?

144 replies

EsperTillus · 04/03/2026 11:10

I’ve had a really shite time lately with some family events and my mental health.

My lovely partner today surprised me with a long weekend to my favourite city in Europe in April. It’s been booked.

he didn’t think anything of booking it as he knew I had loads of annual leave (will need to book the Friday off) and I’m over the moon. The only problem is, my department requires us to work 1 in every 4 Saturdays and my Saturday has fallen when we’re supposed to go away.

they are usually fine to book any annual leave but there’s a strict rule that you have to do your Saturdays, no exception. It was an oversight on my partner’s part and he’s very apologetic.

The trip isn’t really refundable, he got a fab deal on the hotel and that part is refundable but the flights which make up 80% of what he’s paid are non-refundable. We couldn’t really afford to re-book.

Saturday shifts at my job are also notoriously busy and stressful.

I’ve had such an awful time lately and really need this trip to look forward to. WIBU to pull a sickie on the Saturday?

OP posts:
PermanentlyExhaustedPigeonZZZ · 04/03/2026 15:52

It's surely totally unreasonable for you to have NO way of avoiding working a Saturday. If you ask before the rota comes out do they adjust it?

TeenToTwenties · 04/03/2026 15:24

EsperTillus · 04/03/2026 15:20

If I were to go about officially challenging the blanket-ban on Saturday swaps, what’s the best way to go about it? I’m only an entry-level position as is every else who’s been shafted by the ban. Managers are allowed to use AL for Saturday shifts. Should I get Julie involved to support me as it was banned due to her?

Any advice appreciated as I’d much rather address the issue head-on that have to be deceitful and call in sick

Edited

I'd propose a solution to the ban.

So in order to swap shifts a form is filled in and signed by the 2 swapped and the manager. At that point it is fixed and an obligation.

Original poster
EsperTillus · 04/03/2026 15:20

If I were to go about officially challenging the blanket-ban on Saturday swaps, what’s the best way to go about it? I’m only an entry-level position as is every else who’s been shafted by the ban. Managers are allowed to use AL for Saturday shifts. Should I get Julie involved to support me as it was banned due to her?

Any advice appreciated as I’d much rather address the issue head-on that have to be deceitful and call in sick

OP posts:
Bonkers1966 · 04/03/2026 15:19

If I couldn't swap with someone I would take a sickie. MH is no joke. Take care OP.

dadtoateen · 04/03/2026 15:18

VickyEadieofThigh · 04/03/2026 15:14

Apologies, didn't mean to sound arsey. I think it's outrageous that they don't pay sick leave.

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Many, many companies do not pay SSP for the first 3 days......

Pistachiocake · 04/03/2026 15:17

WafflingDreamer · 04/03/2026 11:30

Honestly I'd go in and talk to your boss openly. Perhaps you can offer to work an extra Saturday. I really dont think you would enjoy being away if you've lied about it, personally I'd be too anxious about stuff appearing on social media

Edited

And wherever it is, flights can be cancelled. Obviously less likely in some places, but still probably more likely right now.

dadtoateen · 04/03/2026 15:17

mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/03/2026 14:53

'The Man'

🙂

Her family wouldn't replace her as quickly, is what I mean. All the best, op.

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I know what you meant :)

Yes, I wouldn't have thought her family would replace her that quickly.... Slight difference to be fair :)

VickyEadieofThigh · 04/03/2026 15:14

EsperTillus · 04/03/2026 12:32

No need to get arsey with me, that’s my company’s policy. Short-term sickness is unpaid.

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Apologies, didn't mean to sound arsey. I think it's outrageous that they don't pay sick leave.

Coconutter24 · 04/03/2026 15:07

EsperTillus · 04/03/2026 13:56

I did have weeks of genuine sickness and they’ve seen sick notes regarding this as I ended up needing the occasional day off but it is subsiding now and I’m back in full-time.

Edited
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That is completely irrelevant! You did have a genuine sickness with your pregnancy I understand that and it can’t be helped however you know full well you don’t need the particular time off for pregnancy illness, how could you possibly know you’d need that exact Saturday off?

I’m pregnant as well and have had a couple of short-notice days off for pregnancy related ailments I don’t know whether I could say it’s pregnancy related as it’s a bit harder to challenge then

You’re considering using your pregnancy as an excuse because ‘it’s a bit harder to challenge’.

mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/03/2026 14:53

dadtoateen · 04/03/2026 14:49

Who knows if its a man she works for :)

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'The Man'

🙂

Her family wouldn't replace her as quickly, is what I mean. All the best, op.

dadtoateen · 04/03/2026 14:49

mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/03/2026 14:47

That's working for the man for you!

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Who knows if its a man she works for :)

mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/03/2026 14:47

dadtoateen · 04/03/2026 14:34

They wouldn't really have a choice if she died... :)

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That's working for the man for you!

FinalReply · 04/03/2026 14:46

You need to go to management en masse. It is crazy that the shifts are getting covered yet they are still refusing.

Original poster
EsperTillus · 04/03/2026 14:37

It’s a shame as I have 2 other colleagues who have also been left in the shit the blanket ban.

Colleauge A has their child’s birthday 7th March and is working.

Colleauge B has her anniversary Saturday 14th and is working.

Colleauge A and B teamed up and reached out to the manager to beg for a swap and got declined.

It’s shite because if these events had fallen on weekdays they’d be able to book annual leave no problem.

I’m wondering whether to be a pain now and get everyone involved to contest the ban!

OP posts:
DeftGoldHedgehog · 04/03/2026 14:36

EsperTillus · 04/03/2026 12:05

its unpaid actually

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Unpaid? Fuck them, take a sickie and look for a better job.

dadtoateen · 04/03/2026 14:34

mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/03/2026 14:29

If you died tomorrow, they would replace you by Friday

Yabu to even debate this - go! ❤️

They wouldn't really have a choice if she died... :)

Heronwatcher · 04/03/2026 14:30

staceyflack · 04/03/2026 13:57

Go sick for a week. Gives you a couple of days before and after. See it as a mental health holiday. They'll have to manage without you completely when you're on maternity leave. Wellbeing / family comes first. ❤️ Lovely partner. Have a great time. 💖

Are you mad? It’s like you want her to get sacked! She’s pregnant, with a sickness record and has already asked her manager to swap the day. It’s unlikely she’d be able to put forward any medical evidence if investigated. She might as well have a sign on her head saying “please sack me.”

I’m all for companies treating their staff fairly- on this occasion I think that the OP should raise the swap idea again with her manager- but this is just taking the piss. Plus putting a massive burden on the other staff.

mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/03/2026 14:29

If you died tomorrow, they would replace you by Friday

Yabu to even debate this - go! ❤️

Heronwatcher · 04/03/2026 14:26

EsperTillus · 04/03/2026 13:56

I did have weeks of genuine sickness and they’ve seen sick notes regarding this as I ended up needing the occasional day off but it is subsiding now and I’m back in full-time.

Edited
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If you’ve got a sickness record, so to speak, then sorry but it’s even more likely that this will lead to further enquiries and potentially you’ll get found out.

Original poster
EsperTillus · 04/03/2026 14:23

Ninerainbows · 04/03/2026 12:58

They should have just banned Julie really. Once she'd swapped it was on her to find someone else who was not Ann.

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This is what we all think. Julie was a CF and the rest of us are paying for it. The blanket-ban is only going to cause more problems IMO as people will try to find alternative ways around it.

OP posts:
Original poster
EsperTillus · 04/03/2026 14:17

NutButterOnToast · 04/03/2026 14:00

In that case I would just do the swap with your friend. Tell no one. Your work friend comes in on Saturday, you don't.

If management throw a fit, what are they going to do? Send your friend home?

Hmm. It’s risky but not as risky as pulling a sickie. I wouldn’t want to risk my colleague getting in trouble though.

OP posts:
HelloDandy · 04/03/2026 14:07

Yes I'd throw a sickie. In fact I have one planned for later this month. Not for a planned trip. Because on that particular day I'll be used and my good nature will taken advantage of so it's time for a sickie.

FinalReply · 04/03/2026 14:05

EsperTillus · 04/03/2026 13:58

In terms of cover - if I were to be off ill nobody would be expected to come in and cover. It would mean the other 9 people in would have a higher workload between them.

I guess then it depends if you feel bad about that or not. I have not called in sick for decades as I don’t want colleagues to cover my work. So I def couldn’t pull a sickie. Your work’s inflexibility is stupid though and will lead to frustrated staff doing this.

NutButterOnToast · 04/03/2026 14:00

In that case I would just do the swap with your friend. Tell no one. Your work friend comes in on Saturday, you don't.

If management throw a fit, what are they going to do? Send your friend home?

Original poster
EsperTillus · 04/03/2026 13:58

In terms of cover - if I were to be off ill nobody would be expected to come in and cover. It would mean the other 9 people in would have a higher workload between them.

OP posts: