Would you fake a cough to get time off from work.

[MerinoFroggie]

Would you pull a sickie in the middle of a pandemic?

My employer denied me time off this year. The last week off I had was back in summer of 2019. I'm not a nurse or a doctor working the front line and even if I was, I would probably be allowed time off. I am a nanny for a family and I worked throughout the lockdowns too so I never had appropriate time off so far this year.

The only thing on the parents minds now are Christmas parties and meet ups and generally going against the public health guidelines and really they are putting me at risk. Not only that but there's two sets of grandparents due to visit and stay over Christmas with them and I'm shocked how they have increased their contacts and social nights instead of limiting it to reduce the chances of picking up a virus infection and passing it on..

I'm thinking if I was to develop a fake temperature and cough over the weekend, I could get time off in isolation?

I do fear the only bonus I'm going to get this year is covid.

If they don’t respect the rules or allow you time off, what makes you think they will adhere to you isolating? Bear in mind that you should isolate as a family which could mean them expecting you to continue looking after the children and working as normal.

I wouldn't in my situation, with good employers.
If I was in your shoes I'd probably have a conveniently timed cough!
If you develop this cough before Monday you have to isolate for 14 days rather than the 10 they're proposing from Monday onwards FYI.

Why are you not getting holiday isn't it law to get 28 days ( incl bank hols )

Your employer has the right to dictate when you take annual leave, so they weren’t doing anything wrong by saying you couldn’t have it at X time anymore.

No I wouldn’t.
I imagine if you did this your employer would ask to see the test confirming your negative test results before you return to work (or even the positive ones if the don’t believe you). They have your name & d.o.b in them a couple of lines down so not like you could use someone else’s.

All year you have had not one day off as leave? That’s not right. What sort of contract do you have?

Yes and i had cough had to have couple days off and keep dc home had to show negative test result to school and work before i could return all in all it took 48 hrs for symtoms test and results

They have to allow you time off as leave. But they can choose the days.

If you live with them. They will all have to isolate.

Oh my god please don’t. If you have to fake something at least fake something like a stomach bug. If you fake a cough and temp everyone who works with you is going to worry.

Someone did this and the person he worked with had a disabled child who became unwell, had to be treated as suspected covid and incredibly scary for the family instead of realising what the problem was.

But your saying you haven't had time of since 2019 ? Do you have a contract

Do you mean to say that your employer hasn't allowed you to take any holiday days this year? Surely that's against the law? What does you contract say with regard to holidays?

@CatholicKidston

I wouldn't in my situation, with good employers. If I was in your shoes I'd probably have a conveniently timed cough! If you develop this cough before Monday you have to isolate for 14 days rather than the 10 they're proposing from Monday onwards FYI.

I thought it was already 10 days.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/how-long-to-self-isolate/

@emilyfrost

Your employer has the right to dictate when you take annual leave, so they weren’t doing anything wrong by saying you couldn’t have it at X time anymore.

Your employer can but not when it means someone goes for around 18 months without any time off.

What they are doing is illegal. Yes they can veto leave on a certain date but they must allow you to take at least 28 days per year. As they haven’t done that you are in a good position to demand it now. Yes, they could sack you but you could sue for unfair dismissal (sacked for asserting your statutory rights).

I wouldnt fake a cough as that would mean you & your entire household isolating for 10 days.

I'm getting Xmas day off and new years day off. That's all I'm getting from them.

If I fake a cough, I would feel very guilty of using up the resources for a test knowing damn well its a fake cough. That could be the only thing that would stop me. The guilt of using the covid testing infrastructure knowing its fake.

Your employer has to allow you annual leave. Yes, they can say when but not deny it altogether. So I would be seeking a new job, seeking advice on who I go to wrt my employers not allowing me my statutory leave entitlement, and in all honesty if employed by people like that, yes, developing a conveniently timed cough.

To think I opened this thread all ready to shout at you!

Thanks for all the replies. I will fake another sickness on the Mon and Tuesday to get a long weekend for myself.

You could get signed off sick with anxiety? I wouldn’t like to be in your situation.

And as your employer, they are actually responsible for your health and safety.

This doesn't make any sense.
How many holidays are you entitled to as per your contract?

Nah, I would consider that tempting fate.

@MerinoFroggie

Thanks for all the replies. I will fake another sickness on the Mon and Tuesday to get a long weekend for myself.

But why? Ask for your leave, which is yours by right. Are you in the U.K.?

I had two lots of “Covid leave” before they clocked on, realised the station was looking very empty and started making people get a test, and return to work with a negative.

Definitely not but I'd be getting the holiday I'm due and looking for another job.