to call in sick on this day.

[naughtyornot]

My DS starts school after christmas and i really want to take him and pick him up on his first day.
I work part time, and his first day is one of my working days.

I have been told, a few months ago, that i cant have that day off as everyone is back from the christmas break. I know for 100% that i will not be allowed to be in 15 minutes late, or leave a little bit early, even if i have made up the time before hand.

DS is an only child and i really want to be there. I think this is only a job, its not a career job, but its my only childs first day at school.

AIBU to call in sick that day?
Ive not had a sick day for about 6 months.

call in sick-i did. its your childs first day only once, screw work he needs you therev :)

It's a shame, but it is cheating, so yes, you are bein (understandably) unreasonable.

In effect you want you colleagues to cover for you and your employer/gov sick pay to pay you to skive off, however good the reason.

Your employer will remember you wanted this day off, I am sure.

I would be much more inclined to have a quiet word with your boss, offer to be flexible, and they may surprise you with their understanding.

I would never take a skivey sick day off, in principle, but also knowing my lucky I would have a genuine illness days later, and could land myslef in HR trouble.

YANBU wanting to be there for your son's first day at school- but if you've already asked and been told no, then you throw a sickie, your employers will figure it out surely?

Is there anyone who will swap days/shifts with you? Or could you take a day's unpaid parental leave?

If you've already discussed the possibility of taking leave then it will be pretty damn obvious, and no sick day in 6 months is hardly earth shattering, most people aren't sick enough not to work several times a year.

However, your job, your call but you wont be deceiving anyone!

i kind of think that too. Its just once, ill never get that first day back. I need to be there.

The second day i will have to drop off at the new childminders for her to take him and pick him up, its a staggered intake.

But after a week ill just be dropping at the childminders and then there everyday to pick him up.

My work is just part time, low paid. Ive been here 18 months.

They might suspect i supose, but what could they actually do about it?
Nothing.

Rather than call in sick could you (nearer the time) book an appointment at dentist/optician for 9.30am so you could legitimately arrive at work 'late' ie after
school and dentist.

This sort of depends what job you do but would stop you getting in trouble if you call in sick and are then seen at the school gates.

ive thought of that too. If i do that, i get told i should book it out of work time.

There is no chance i will be seen at the school gate, i live very far away from where i work, or any collegues work.
Noone can swap hours with me, and they will not be flexiable.

I causually mentioned about the day off about a year ago. So i doubt it will be remembered.

ive worked since DS was 7 months old. Ive packed him off to nursery when he was ill and hoped for the best, ive missed out on things. He has sometimes had to come second.

Just once, for one day, his first day i want to put him first, you know.

If work could be flexiable, then id gladly just go in a bit late, and leave a bit early. But the cant/wont. So i dont see what choice i have.
BTW, its a part time, low paid job.
The world will not fall apart if i am not in.

think youve answered your question there. Life isnt about work

you know that it's wrong, you know you shouldn't do it.

BUT they've left you little choice. Sometimes our children just have to come first and you're right, his first day at school is something you will never be able to get back.

I would ring in sick. You don't exactly have a history of taking loads of time off, so I would do it in a flash.

I know its wrong. I will feel, already do feel bad about it. Thats why im posting on here, to see what other people think.

But i just cant see any other way round it.

Its his first day, i know he is unlikely to remember, and in the grand scheme of things its not that important. But its important to me. I will always know that i wasnt there.

And that will make me very sad indeed.

I would start looking for a new job. Doesn't sound like a very nice place to work tbh. It was hardly an unreasonable request to begin with.