To ask for advice about ringing in sick to attend a job interview

[Winterjoy]

Ok, I know its very wrong but I have to do it - environment/management at current job has driven me to the brink of a breakdown, to the point where I spent each morning having a panic attack as I walked down the road leading up to the building. I have finally got to the point where I feel mentally strong enough to apply/interview for new roles and after a number of failed applications over the last 6 or so months, have finally been invited an interview later this week.....

Unfortunately there is NO WAY to take leave on this date, and no way to change the interview date. So, I have resolved to call in sick (feel terrible about this) but am now panicking about:

1. If offered position new employer will check sick dates as part of reference and withdraw offer as a result

2. At interview I will be asked about how it is possible to attend i.e. am I on leave?

Any advice?

anyway, congratulations op
dont mention it until you get a firm offer in writing

In my experience you are given an interview date and you take it, it is not open to discussion

DH was offered an interview last week and he couldn't make the time they gave him, so he emailed/spoke to them and they were very accommodating, and has now been called back for a second interview

Congratulations OP

"I have a friend who was asked at an interview: "If we phoned in to your present job, where, would they say, you are?"

That question is very unfair. In my office it is expected that you take a sickie for an interview.

In lots of jobs telling the boss you're attending an interview is likely to get you sacked at the first opportunity.

The recruiter wants to send out for references immediately, hence me thinking I should maybe give a heads up to current manager as they may receive the reference request before I give notice

They will receive it before you give notice as you won't get a job offer in writing I imagine until the new employer receives your current employer 's reference.

that's not necessarily true ilovesooty - we make written offers of employment, but these are conditional on receiving written references. We understand that the candidate would want to inform their current employer that they are leaving before the employer gets a reference request out of the blue.

Anyway congratulations OP!

You might well get an offer subject to references that you can accept.

When you have that you could have a quiet word with your manager to expect the request. Many references are dealt with by hr now though as companies will only give factual not personal? You need to see what firm that takes. Anyway I would let them know but not hand notice in until they've got references and confirmed all OK etc.

It's not through an agency I take it? They might be able to advise what the norm is.

Oh and huge congrats, well done!

I work in an industry with generous leave allowance and no issues with taking annual leave at short notice so yes, someone who pulled a sickie for an interview would not be considered a suitable employee. It tells me they can't plan (because why a sickie and not short notice annual leave?), and are prepared to lie to an employer to suit themselves. Neither are good. Someone who says 'I have a commitment at work that day I can't miss, can we change the date of the interview' on the other hand tells me they are a good and committed employee so yes, it's not that hard to change interview dates, we usually have a few days of interview so to swap a candidate from one day to another is fine.

I don't ask why a line report needs annual leave, as long as they have leave available they can take it when and why they want. So I wouldn't have to be told why they need the annual leave. We also don't frogmarch people out when they hand in their notice. It's pointless, if they wanted to steal any of our knowhow they would have done it before they handed in their notice.

If you work in an industry where you really can't take short notice annual leave then I guess you have to do what is necessary but the issue there is with the industry you work in.

I dont go off sick for interviews i go for them after work, before work or i have a contact lense check up 'because my eyes are bothering me' !

Not sure what the difference is between made up appointment and made up sickie.

I've never had to take a sickie to attend an interview, or make up an appointment but I've always assumed that people do take sick days if appointments can't be made up or turning up to work in a suit would give the game away.

Also you can self-certify for up to 5 days. If the work enviro is so toxic then a day off for stress is a sick day. When off with stress you are not obliged to sit in your house moping. You are totally allowed to do things that help alleviate your stress sickness. Like attend interviews for new jobs.

Copngratulations!

Who give letters out for appointments, my Dr/Dentist/Hairdresser all use blank white cards they write on with pencil: My BFF has boss like this so she uses her hairdressers blank appt cards and erases old pencil date and puts new one if she needs an 'appointment'. Luckily my work wouldnt even think to ask if i said i had an appointment.

You can do interviews before work or after work, thats what most of mine have been (contract so do more than most). How you got there is never a question trust me.

Not sure what the difference is between made up appointment and made up sickie.

Because for a made up appointment you are using a day of allocated annual leave that you are allowed to use as you want. Whereas sick leave is for, em, when you are sick. Not sure how you can't see the difference? One could get you the sack if used inappropriately, the other can't be used inappropriately.

If you're making up an appointment you're not necessarily taking up a/l but leaving the office for part of the day/coming in late/leaving early for a made up appointment.

Cool. But as stated above I wouldn't be able to make an appointment on such short notice so what am I supposed to do then? Keep letting interview after interview slide past me because they don't happen to fall on a day that the planets align? Not a bloody chance. I have offered to do interviews on other days or at other times and have always been told either a) no or b) we will call back if we don't hire a candidate from the initial interview round. I have never been called back in that situation.

Congrats OP on getting the job.

Ring in sick. From the sounds of it you are sick, sick of your employer. Is the interview in the morning? could you say your dp was up all night with manflu and you needed to assist or if it's in the afternoon could you not receive an 'emergency' call that requires you to leave work, ie water leaking from your boiler into your neighbours gaff

1. New employer can add two and two together and so will not be pissed. That's if they do decide to call about your sick record, which is unlikely.
2. Call in sick. It's the only way to have a day off and not tell work where you are going.
3. Good luck!

P.s

Sorry, got question two wrong.

1. Yes, you have the day off.