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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Throwing a sickie

111 replies

lechatnoir · 30/08/2012 19:23

Sorry not an AIBU as I know throwing a sickie isn't right but I need tomorrow & Saturday off work but can't take annual leave & don't know what to say that will sound plausible without the need for an Oscar winning performance on the phone in the morning or when I return to work on Monday! I've honestly never chucked a sickie & I'm terrified they'll see through me.
Anyone?

OP posts:
Signet2012 · 30/08/2012 20:58

Ok, if you are really going to do this then:

  1. Don't put a poorly voice on, its rare anyone is ever ill enough to have a "poorly" voice.
  2. DO not use sickness and diarrhea - I had a staff member do this repeatedly and in the end I asked them to go the doctors and come back with a fit note as we look after vulnerable people who are prone to infections and we needed to make sure they didn't have any infections etc. Staff member did as well! Went to docs and had to do a stoole sample (bad bad signet)
  3. Do use something that you wont need to back up later in the line.
  4. Try to use something that if by any chance you are seen it would not necessarily mean a lie. (A staff member once phoned me to tell me they had fell down the stairs and couldnt walk - great until they where spotted out round the town)
  5. You could go down the personal problems route. Tends to stop people asking but I always think its tempting fate.
dimplebum · 30/08/2012 20:59

Recently my mum was very ill suddenly and so couldn't look after my 2DS s while I was at work. I had no other childcare and DH couldn't take the time off as he had just started a new job. I rung work and told them my situation and I was given a weeks parental leave to sort out childcare situation and find a childminder. They were very undetstanding. Couldn't you use a similar story?

notsofrownieface · 30/08/2012 21:00

If it really is that important a family emergency is a fantastic cover. Yes it is wrong however, if this will turn your families fortune around then, well the greater good and all that.

notsofrownieface · 30/08/2012 21:01

Also if you have done nothing similar before, well all the better!

Londonista1975 · 30/08/2012 21:02

Just do it, it's not like they can fire you - bu be careful covering up your tracks!

Agree with cumberdick - blame a family emergency.

If you want to go down the feigning sickness route, then say you've been sick and have had the D word. Also - and this is vital - do not speak to anyone before you've made that call to work in the morning first thing. Helps to give that poorly impression.

BigRedIndiaRubberBall · 30/08/2012 21:21

When I had miscarriages and didn't want to tell my horrible boss the real reason I needed time off, my GP dad suggested I tell him I had menstrual flooding. Boss didn't ask any more questions after that ...

GhostShip · 30/08/2012 21:23

Unless you say what it is I can't give a proper opinion

I fucking hate it when people ring in sick when I KNOW it fucks everything up for the rest of us.

GhostShip · 30/08/2012 21:23

Sorry that meant when I know they aren't

hermioneweasley · 30/08/2012 21:42

Londonista, her company absolutely can dismiss her for claiming to be sick when she wasn't. It is gross misconduct.

Londonista1975 · 30/08/2012 21:56

Obviously I meant that they can't fire her if she does it properly...

But has as been pointed out - and something that didn't occur to me before - is what someone else said earlier about her selling a rat about the date her employee went for an interview...that's a bit worrying, though few employers could be arsed to be sneaky about this anyway.

Original poster
lechatnoir · 30/08/2012 22:01

I won't need references so this won't be an issue & thank you for all the replies I think lack of childcare is the most feasible option then they can retrospectively deduct my wages 2 days if they don't count it as off sick.

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 30/08/2012 22:04

She's caught betweena rock and a hard place. If she does it she's likely to lose her job. If she doesn't do it she's likely to lose her job fairly soon anyway AND have missed out on this opportunity.

mrsrupertpenryjones · 30/08/2012 22:04

What ever you do when calling in sick - don't use a sick voice.

We have a answer machine at work / take calls from people calling in sick and we can tell when you are putting it on. Just talk normally - tell them you've got the shits and that will do!

InkyBinky · 30/08/2012 22:06

I couldn't do it but I would tell them I have to have a day off for personal reasons that you can't discuss with them. I would make sure they know you have never taken a sickie. However you look at it, taking a sick day when you are not sick is theft.
Good luck, I really hope you get your day off.

StealthPolarBear · 30/08/2012 22:06

just a thought - if you are at risk of redundancy does your company have to offer you reasonable time off for interviews?

InkyBinky · 30/08/2012 22:07

Oh, xposted. No child care is a good plan Smile

StealthPolarBear · 30/08/2012 22:07

I think inkyBinky's suggestion is best. If you get a new job out of this you tell them then.

Londonista1975 · 30/08/2012 22:08

God, some of you are really paranoid. If she does it, how is she likely to lose her job?!

StealthPolarBear · 30/08/2012 22:09

Sorry, likely to lose her job - it;s possible, but I agree "likely" is too strong a word. I was just pointng out the deal to the people who are telling her she IBVU and should not lie.

DameEnidSpink · 30/08/2012 22:10

Over the years I have had staff members ring in for the following non-illness related reasons:

  • Water leak, couldn't find stop cock, needed to stay in for an emergency plumber
  • Post burglary, waiting for SOCO to fingerprint
  • Relative in hospital at other end of country
  • Having to go to court to stand bail for someone

Obviously it was taken as unpaid / annual leave, and I wouldn't want to use them in case karma came and got me for tempting fate

Londonista1975 · 30/08/2012 22:15

Yeah, it's possible but very, very unlikely. People do it all the time and get away with it.

StealthPolarBear · 30/08/2012 22:16

Yes, agreed, People get caught because of reularity and patterns. But what I'm saying is it's not fair to berate the OP for wanting to do this. She presumably will also struggle to have time off for an interview.

WildWorld2004 · 30/08/2012 22:17

I suffer with IBS & i feel like my employer thinks im lying when i phone & say i cant come in coz iv got d. Now i know why.

PissyDust · 30/08/2012 22:18

We have 3 emergency days at work to use for childcare.

Have your DC had chickenpox? This could be a good excuse.

InkyBinky · 30/08/2012 22:26

The fact you can get away with taking a sickie doesn't make it an ok thing to do.