My friend is going to call in sick on Boxing Day

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My friend works in retail on Oxford Street. Somehow he managed to get the week leading up to Christmas off. But it was on the understanding he must work Boxing Day.

He doesn't want to work that day so he has repeatedly said he's just going to call in sick

AIBU in thinking that's a bit of a dick move? And it will be really obvious he's not ill as he requested the day off initially.

Yanbu, retail bosses are extremely wise to "phoning in sick after being told can't have day off". But it's your friend's mistake to make.

I hope he doesn't expect any favours from his colleagues any time soon then as some poor sod will have to cover for him.

And I would imagine his shifts for next Christmas may be less than favourable too!

He's a pillock, in the same conversation, he was complaining about having to cover for his sick colleagues - and having to complete their targets for them.

I know it's SFA to do with me... but I can't get how some people can be so stupid and dickish!

Screams sickie. He should expect a rough ride when he goes back to work.

sirzy I have a feeling he won't have this job next Christmas!

My friend...
He is a pillock..

You have an "interesting" choice in friends..

Having worked in retail, hospitality and now healthcare you wouldn't believe the amount of people that get sick and diarrhoea and migraines over Christmas. It's the ultimate dick move but people seem to get away with it.

itsnoteasy I know, right??

You're right of course. But... I have a job that's not retail and the whole place shuts down at Christmas. I almost always get ill! Somehow it's either I catch something on a flight or the adrenaline of finishing a pile of stuff or the kids tired and virus ridden. Lying here with a chesty cough about to fly long haul. Sigh.

The problem is the fakers make everyone look bad. I went to work about 5 years ago with an absolute fucker of a cold. I didn't dare take Christmas day off because my workplace were "cracking down" on sickness absence over the Xmas period. I spent most of the day hiding in the office doing care plans because I felt so shit.

I used to work in retail and couldn't stand people like your friend. Myself and other colleagues had to cover their workload. None of us wanted to be there either but there are no nice hours in retail anymore.

He should expect a roasting from colleagues on his return.

I was a manager in retail for a few years. You can spot people like your friend a mile off and predict they'll be the ones letting everyone else down by pulling sickies on obvious dates. I had one employee who was 'sick' the day after every single holiday they ever had, the day before every bank holiday, every stocktake etc. We were a small team and I got on well with the employee out of work but that behaviour was so disappointing as it put so much pressure on their colleagues (myself included) to pick up the slack.

I have a lot of sympathy for people being put in bad situations due to crappy working conditions but to have agreed the week off before Christmas then pull a sickie on an agreed shift on Boxing Day is a shitty thing to do.

Of course he could just be mouthing off rubbish and will turn up as expected.

I work in retail however my work has a blanket ban on holiday in December.. Cracks down on people like your friend op. Not completely but a fair bit.

I have the 24h off my work is great about this (I celebrate Christmas on the 24th) I always work on the 27th and NYE that is fair as I get to have " my " Christmas off.. It would never occur to me to call in sick (unless I really was)

Not really sure how it affects you op.

I work in retail (luckily our shop stays closed on boxing day!). They will totally know he is lying but there isn't much they can do about it unfortunately.

I can't understand how he got the week off!

It is an obvious move but I am one who thinks all shops should be closed Boxing Day!!!

I once called in "sick" just after Christmas 😬
Pulling a sickie on a day you previously requested as a day off is a risky move though.

Same doddle

Working in retail is so horrible I don't really blame anyone for pulling sickies quite honestly

I hope he's not genuinely sick anytime soon.

My arsehole colleague managed to get herself transferred to another department to avoid the heavy work next week. On inspecting her area we then found out she hasn't done any of the prep work in the lead up like the rest of us either, so double the work for those left behind.
Then to rub it in further, while we were really bogged down yesterday, her new "light" department gave themselves the afternoon off. Cunts.

I can't understand how he got the week off!

We have used to have a few options of time off over Christmas. The worse days we worked, the more time off we had at a later date but agree to have that whole week off is odd. Next week will be manic on Oxford Street.

I think things are going full circle. My first saturday job was shop work, and first full time job was retail. Back then, it was full time (granted 5.5 days/wk) but at least I managed to get a mortgage etc.

Now, it's all zero hours and minimum wage, so employers really cannot be suprised to get nothing back in the way of loyalty.

Actually topcat that's a good point.

The problem is that the stress and extra work fall on colleagues, not the Phillip Greens of the world.

Those buggers will never be affected by it.