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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

is this so bad or me?

27 replies

yummincepie · 03/02/2011 13:55

I've had a really crap time this last 18mths, finally things are getting better!

I've been invited at the last minute to a hen weekend, this weekend, quite a few friends that I've made recently are going and I'd love to join in.

The thing is I work all day sunday and I'd never get it off at this short notice, Is it really wrong of me to pull a sicky, I've worked since I was 15 and never have before, my friends say it will be fine but I'm worrying about doing it!

OP posts:
MrsRichardHammond · 03/02/2011 13:57

Don't pull a sickie - you'll get caught out. Be honest with your employer and offer to take it as unpaid if necessary.

FabbyChic · 03/02/2011 13:57

Pull the sicky, phone with a soreish throat! Do it quietly, and don't tell people you work with that maybe friends where you was.

kittybuttoon · 03/02/2011 14:03

I once suffered an emergency at work, and was rushed to hospital.

Later that day, my boss came to visit me - only to find, at the next bed, a colleague visiting their aunty. The visitor had phoned in, and 'pulled a sickie' that morning. Much embarrassment for her (and sniggering from me, from under my oxygen mask)

Boss particularly annoyed with her, as he had a 'real' sick person (ie me) out of action, and she was having a dishonest day off.

Be sure your sins will find you out!

serajen · 03/02/2011 14:04

pull a sickie, everyone's done it, for goodness sake!

putthekettleon · 03/02/2011 14:07

pull a sickie, everyone does it sometimes! As long as there's no chance of you being found out, eg if you'll be going out in the same town where you work.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 03/02/2011 14:07

Never lie, the truth will always come out in the end...think of your friends putting the pics of the hen weekend on FB, their friends show their friends who happens to be your colleague/boss etc. Sooo not worth it, crap times will come again if you're sacked for gross misconduct or something! (Don't work in HR so that's probably a bit dramatic but you know what I mean!).

Niecie · 03/02/2011 14:11

My mum always said if you pretend to sick to pull a sickie you will always end up being sick in your own time (i.e. when you were working anyway). She has always been proved right.

And no not everybody has pulled a sickie. I never have.

Niecie · 03/02/2011 14:11

Whoops....when you weren't working anyway

MrSpoc · 03/02/2011 14:17

Honestly I would pull a sickie. If you have never done it before then you will be more likly to be trusted.

Also if you are found out all they can do is give you a warning. but if you did it all the time they could sack you.

Original poster
yummincepie · 03/02/2011 14:21

Totally worrying about it now! In my heart I want to be honest with them but I know I won't end up going... I'm the person who always seems to cover when others are ill and I always turn in when I feel unwell or my kids are ill, there always seems to be alot of taking from my work but not alot of giving

OP posts:
bubblewrapped · 03/02/2011 14:24

As Holly says.. a hen party is likely to be talked about on FB, why not just tell the truth and ask for a day off.

If you are a reliable employee who rarely asks, then someone should be able to cover for you.

Serendippy · 03/02/2011 14:27

YABU. You have had a rough time, but things will get rougher if you are caught out. FB and the like mean that everything is public knowledge now. Ask for an unpaid day, if you get it, great, if not, arrange another night out when you are free.

ashamedandconfused · 03/02/2011 14:33

all of you lot thinking its Ok to pull a sickie is part of what is wrong with this country!!!

It's a disgraceful attitude and totally unfair on your employers and colleagues - and has a knock on effect on customers/clients/level of service/reputation too

next time you want to moan about the queues in the shop/PO, or the time it takes to get your meal at the table in a restaurant, remind yourselves it's fine, the service is crap because there are people taking sickies and it doesn't matter, everyone does it

no they don't - decent, hard working, HONEST folk don't!

Serendippy · 03/02/2011 14:34

I heart you, ashamedandconfused.

ashamedandconfused · 03/02/2011 14:38

Grin andBlush

you probably guessed, this thread has got me all worked up!

what kind of example are we setting to our kids, that the bosses OWE you the job and you can do what the hell you like and get away with it??

MrSpoc · 03/02/2011 14:42

Ashmedandconfused - I am a director of my own company. we expect each person to have on average 3 sick days a year and factor this into our planning.

Consistant offenders are quickly found out and delt with. But if i was in her situation where i have taken the slack for everyone else and have never taken a sickie then i would and not feel guilty about it.

Original poster
yummincepie · 03/02/2011 14:43

MrSpoc I wish I worked for you

OP posts:
MrSpoc · 03/02/2011 14:57

sure why not

Quenelle · 03/02/2011 15:05

I did it once over 15 years ago and was not found out. I didn't enjoy what I'd skived off to do though. I felt too bad about stitching my colleagues up.

I would never do it again.

jasminetom · 03/02/2011 15:24

just phone in and say you feel terrible but want to be honest. You overindulged the night before and have made yourself ill. That way you are being almost totally honest. I think you should go, life is so short, time with friends is just as important as work. Enjoy

Original poster
yummincepie · 03/02/2011 15:33

thanks for all the advice still debating what to do!

OP posts:
TrillianAstra · 03/02/2011 15:36

If you cover for people a lot, why not remind them?

"Remember when I covered for you on X date, and the time when Y happened, and when you Z and I didn't tell the boss? Well I really need you to help me out here."

Original poster
yummincepie · 03/02/2011 17:47

ashamedandconfused, I've been thinking about your comment earlier, thats whats up with this country!

I'm 33 have worked since I was 15, I 've never asked anyone for anything eg for this country to keep my family and me.

I work hard, what s wrong with this country is the people who don't, they don't have to even think about pulling sick days because everyday they do what they want.

Where has the majority of us that do work have to snap up the fun days with friends and family when we can because they are few and far between

OP posts:
minipie · 03/02/2011 17:49

If it's an all weekend thing can you not go for the saturday and come back for work on sunday?

judging by the hen weekends I've been on, the sunday is usually just sitting around hungover anyway ...

hairyfairylights · 03/02/2011 17:50

No don't pull a sickie.