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Original poster

Holidays/festivals whilst on the sick

137 replies

Twinklingterapin · 11/06/2026 20:18

A few colleagues of mine (I work in a school) have been long term sick with mental health, however they have regularly been posting their lives on social media. Ranging from mental health walks, allotment days, coffee dates with friends and even holidays abroad, all whilst off sick. Dont get me wrong i wouldnt expect people to stay inside all day or become a recluse, however I do think there should be a line. The latest has really boiled my blood, seeing posts of a colleague at Download, posing with his friends, and saying how good it is for his mental health.

Surely I cant be the only one to think this is too far? You shouldn't be able to be off on the sick from work but still go festival.

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 11/06/2026 21:29

Shelleyblueeyes · 11/06/2026 21:27

Yes he was being paid his salary whilst away having a good time - exactly the same as the person at the festival.
Lots of different ways of looking at it.

X

Show quote history

I just hope you are not a manager

Dinggirl · 11/06/2026 21:27

Twinklingterapin · 11/06/2026 20:49

Everyone will deal with things in different ways, I understand that and I accept that I was being unreasonable by being annoyed at it being posted on social media.

Obviously I would not voice this in person. Hence coming to an anonymous forum, I may have opinions but im not for kicking someone when they are down.

No, you're not being unreasonable at all. All those saying it's none of your business...of course it is if you're having to pick up the slack! And if they're posting about it on social media then it does make it other peoples' business!

Shelleyblueeyes · 11/06/2026 21:27

XenoBitch · 11/06/2026 21:18

I think the difference here is he lied about being sick to go on a stag do, whereas the people in the OP were already off sick anyway.

Show quote history

Yes he was being paid his salary whilst away having a good time - exactly the same as the person at the festival.
Lots of different ways of looking at it.

X

Dufflecoats · 11/06/2026 21:20

MickyMoonshine · 11/06/2026 21:02

Really? I’m currently off work sick having had a hip replacement. My fit note has me signed off for six weeks minimum. I’m expected to get out and about walking as part of my recovery. I’m not going to be a recluse for weeks!

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I broke my hip and I did try to go back to work earlier than recommended (office job) as I was quite nifty on my crutches but it was a mistake tbh. Sitting down on an office chair for 8 hours a day completely aggravated my hip and left me in agony after a few days. I then had to go in for further surgery and had more time off. I wouldn’t judge anyone for taking their full time off for recovery for a bad break and yes, you are meant to move around in order to build strength.

XenoBitch · 11/06/2026 21:18

Shelleyblueeyes · 11/06/2026 21:16

It's a tricky one isn't it?
I feel a bit sorry for the teacher who threw a sickie to go on a stag do. He was hung out to dry in the papers and yet here someone is going to a festival when they are in sick leave - I struggle to see the difference to be honest.

Agreed no one would think you should be expected to stay in all day but is a festival pushing it a bit? Maybe so....like I say it's a tricky one.

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I think the difference here is he lied about being sick to go on a stag do, whereas the people in the OP were already off sick anyway.

Ilovegermany · 11/06/2026 21:17

I work in luxembourg. The first week off sick you are not allowed out of the house just for medical appointments. Difficult when you live alone. After that it is 10-12 and 14-18 allowed out. If you are off longer than 6 weeks you can ask for an extension. If you want do go somewhere else you have to ask. It doesn’t help mental health at all with these rules.
I would have loved to be able to go to a concert when I was off sick because it would have helped my mental health.
I would have loved to gave taken a holiday for the same reasons.
i was not taking this piss. I was in a hole but they said I had to return to work anyway.
Don’t slam anyone that tries to do normal things when off with mental health issues.
With the rules here I was off with burnout for 4 months and stayed at home the whole time and it made me worse.

Shelleyblueeyes · 11/06/2026 21:16

ilovesooty · 11/06/2026 20:31

They were daft to post on social media given the judgement they're getting. The activities they undertake while off sick with mental health issues are none of your business but given your reaction they'd be wise not to give their colleagues ammunition.

It's a tricky one isn't it?
I feel a bit sorry for the teacher who threw a sickie to go on a stag do. He was hung out to dry in the papers and yet here someone is going to a festival when they are in sick leave - I struggle to see the difference to be honest.

Agreed no one would think you should be expected to stay in all day but is a festival pushing it a bit? Maybe so....like I say it's a tricky one.

drspouse · 11/06/2026 21:12

TheChewdors · 11/06/2026 20:35

the one and only time I was signed off sick from work for two weeks I was told by my manager that I wasn’t allowed to leave the house except for medical appointments and that if I did it would be classed as gross misconduct

What a load of tosh.
I was off for a month with a leg injury. I had to exercise it to get better!

XenoBitch · 11/06/2026 21:05

Flamingojune · 11/06/2026 21:05

So its ok not to go to work if its stressful?

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They are signed off from work, not life.

A festival and a school are totally different environments with different demands etc.

ilovesooty · 11/06/2026 21:05

Flamingojune · 11/06/2026 21:05

So its ok not to go to work if its stressful?

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FFS.

ETA you seem to have very limited understanding of workplace stress, which might involve bullying and might be profoundly traumatic.

Flamingojune · 11/06/2026 21:05

XenoBitch · 11/06/2026 21:00

How is going to a festival similar to working in a school?

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So its ok not to go to work if its stressful?

ilovesooty · 11/06/2026 21:04

Flamingojune · 11/06/2026 20:59

If they're well enough to go to a festival why can't they go to work

Is that a serious question?

MickyMoonshine · 11/06/2026 21:02

AplineDaisies · 11/06/2026 20:27

I think it's out of order. A friend got caught out at a community event in a local park while she was off sick with a broken leg. She couldn't walk but did manage to hobble there on crutches. She was seen by other staff and long story short, they got rid of her

Really? I’m currently off work sick having had a hip replacement. My fit note has me signed off for six weeks minimum. I’m expected to get out and about walking as part of my recovery. I’m not going to be a recluse for weeks!

Thechaseison71 · 11/06/2026 21:01

AplineDaisies · 11/06/2026 20:27

I think it's out of order. A friend got caught out at a community event in a local park while she was off sick with a broken leg. She couldn't walk but did manage to hobble there on crutches. She was seen by other staff and long story short, they got rid of her

Would that depend on the job though? With a broken leg you can't work as a nurse or carer or anything that involves driving but still get to the festival. If it's a sit down job then it's a bit different

PotatoFan · 11/06/2026 21:00

Flamingojune · 11/06/2026 20:59

If they're well enough to go to a festival why can't they go to work

How many school children are you having to teach when you go to festivals then, to make it’s the same demands on your mental health as going to work?

XenoBitch · 11/06/2026 21:00

Flamingojune · 11/06/2026 20:59

If they're well enough to go to a festival why can't they go to work

How is going to a festival similar to working in a school?

Flamingojune · 11/06/2026 20:59

If they're well enough to go to a festival why can't they go to work

SuperMagicHappyForest · 11/06/2026 20:53

Should they be able to go on holidays and festivals - yes absolutely. Should they post it all over social media - nope because people judge what is acceptable and what isn’t - the only people who should judge are occupational health and the employer.

toomuchfaff · 11/06/2026 20:52

mental health walks, allotment days, coffee dates with friends

So youd rather they stayed in their bedrooms, curtains shut.

The only thing that needs to happen is stop following their social media. Problem solved.

Their sick time is sweet fuck all to do with you. If you're understaffed, thats a management problem. Direct your anger there. Stop following your colleagues on social media.

Original poster
Twinklingterapin · 11/06/2026 20:49

Everyone will deal with things in different ways, I understand that and I accept that I was being unreasonable by being annoyed at it being posted on social media.

Obviously I would not voice this in person. Hence coming to an anonymous forum, I may have opinions but im not for kicking someone when they are down.

OP posts:
TheTealHiker · 11/06/2026 20:49

I'd dob them in - but then I'm Not Nice like that.

https://www.warnergoodman.co.uk/site/blog/news/what-can-i-do-if-i-suspect-my-employees-illness-is-not-genuine

Squirrelchops1 · 11/06/2026 20:46

Is there a difference if holiday was prebooked before the sick leave?

Original poster
Twinklingterapin · 11/06/2026 20:45

Thank you everyone for your opinions.

I wouldnt expect anyone to stay inside the whole time they were off no, but I also think have a bit of respect for those you are leaving short staffed and picking up the extra slack and dont post pictures of you having a piss up at a festival.

Unfortunately I have suffered from mental health in the past, and whoever said im comparing it to a stomach bug? I never said that, funnily enough I wouldnt go for walks or for a coffee if I had a stomach bug.

OP posts:
AffableApple · 11/06/2026 20:44

Twinklingterapin · 11/06/2026 20:18

A few colleagues of mine (I work in a school) have been long term sick with mental health, however they have regularly been posting their lives on social media. Ranging from mental health walks, allotment days, coffee dates with friends and even holidays abroad, all whilst off sick. Dont get me wrong i wouldnt expect people to stay inside all day or become a recluse, however I do think there should be a line. The latest has really boiled my blood, seeing posts of a colleague at Download, posing with his friends, and saying how good it is for his mental health.

Surely I cant be the only one to think this is too far? You shouldn't be able to be off on the sick from work but still go festival.

YABVVU. None of your business. Their health, their signing-off. Your use of "on the sick" is very telling.

Mind you discuss none of this with colleagues either. You may find yourself on the wrong end of a bullying disciplinary.

AffableApple · 11/06/2026 20:39

TheChewdors · 11/06/2026 20:35

the one and only time I was signed off sick from work for two weeks I was told by my manager that I wasn’t allowed to leave the house except for medical appointments and that if I did it would be classed as gross misconduct

Well that sounds illegal. How ridiculous. Unless you were signed off with a highly contagious disease, and even so your manager still wouldn't have been in charge of whether you stayed home or not!

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