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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to not go to work today ... or for the rest of the week

45 replies

Zaberwocky · 06/06/2017 07:48

I'm asking because I feel well, guilty. Before this job I've only ever called in sick once in 7 years.

My current job has been horrendous, the worst four months of my life. And between HG and other pregnancy issues, I've called in sick a few times. I've always been a really hard worker, and I think this is why I'm struggling a bit to decide if I'm right or wrong about calling in this week.

Anyway I've got a new job, references all sorted, and I just don't see the point in going in for the last week of my notice. In the last four months, I have had NO work to do. And I mean none, tried to resolve this at various levels of management and was basically told just to get on with it and everyone else does nothing too. Which is true, everyone spends their days browsing online. They've now deauthorised my computer, so I can't even internet browse. They want me to come in, and sit for ten hours playing on my phone to pass the time until Friday. I've asked about cleaning the kitchen, helping other departments, even reading a bloody book. It was a no to every suggestion, and they suggested I just 'sit quietly' ...

I'm paid to be off sick, and while I don't feel great, I do feel okay enough to go in. I just don't want to sit and do nothing all day. It makes me feel a thousand times worse.

So. AIBU to call in sick and stay home where I might actually be able to do something useful with my day?

OP posts:

lydiangel83 · 06/06/2017 07:50

I'd call in sick what a waste of your time! Clean your own kitchen instead lol. Good luck in new job :)

PNGirl · 06/06/2017 07:51

I wouldn't bother. Maybe not the rest of the week - but definitely not for a couple of days.

Tootsiepops · 06/06/2017 07:51

Stay home, definitely.

TiredMumToTwo · 06/06/2017 07:52

Personally I would call in sick & have done in the exact same position you are in now. You have nothing to gain by going in & doing nothing - they must know that too.

TiredMumToTwo · 06/06/2017 07:52

Personally I would call in sick & have done in the exact same position you are in now. You have nothing to gain by going in & doing nothing - they must know that too.

dudsville · 06/06/2017 07:53

Wow, I'd call in sick the rest of the week, and I have a great sickness record (and good health fortunately).

Original poster

Zaberwocky · 06/06/2017 07:54

All done. Called in. They sound incredibly fed up with me

I think I'd actually feel less guilty if it was unpaid. But I just don't see what else I can do, they're being so incredibly obstructive. I would honestly go in no matter how rotten I felt if there were higher expectations than me sitting 'being quiet' all day!

OP posts:

Original poster

Zaberwocky · 06/06/2017 07:57

And thank you Lydia I'm so excited to start! After having to take a couple of unrelated jobs after our last two postings, I finally have my career back on track with this job.

I'm so excited I'm almost not looking forward to maternity leave in December!

OP posts:

Didyoumeantobesorude1 · 06/06/2017 08:00

A bit off the point but is this public sector? (For info I'm retired public sector and it was like this decades ago but in my experience public sector has improved vastly. But if it's a private sector business why hasn't it collapsed?!)
Yes stuff them. Have a nice day off.

Badgertastic · 06/06/2017 08:01

Hey zaberwocky I'm so pleased to hear things are on track for you job wise and that your pregnancy continued. Enjoy your new step and good luck for the rest of your pregnancy

picklemepopcorn · 06/06/2017 08:08

I'd like to know what kind of business, too!

Original poster

Zaberwocky · 06/06/2017 08:10

Ohhh Didyoumean how did you possibly guess ? Yes, well known branch of the public sector. I've never worked in the civil service before, DH convinced me it was a good idea as the job would 'move with him' and it was supposedly easy to get a HR role with my six years of experience when I ended up dumped in a records department ... totally unrelated ...

Badger thank you so much I'm still a bit in denial about it I think! I know it was months ago, but I still can't get over how lovely each and every single one of you was on here.

OP posts:

OnionKnight · 06/06/2017 08:11

I'd call in sick, they can't expect you to just sit there doing fuck all.

Original poster

Zaberwocky · 06/06/2017 08:15

Onion they really do they're and odd bunch.

I was once told off for doing some coursework at work because it was 'unrelated to my job' ... asked what they'd like me to do... they had no work to give me and no response. It's totally crackers. I would've left sooner, but we're in the arse end of nowhere at the moment and it's taken me a while to find anything to apply for!

Honestly, if whoever the PM ends up being wants to find some extra cash, my workplace is where they should start looking...

OP posts:

Floggingmolly · 06/06/2017 08:15

If your job offer has been accepted and references are already sorted; wipe the whole experience from your mind and enjoy the break!

Original poster

Zaberwocky · 06/06/2017 08:16

*an

Apologies for any spelling mistakes. I'll consider putting my contact lenses in!

OP posts:

Carollocking · 06/06/2017 08:36

Sounds so much like council offices here,one of my friends works there and says she does work about 1 days work in a fortnight and that's about it.great to see how our taxes are used isn't it.
No offence to you op as it's not your fault.
So I don't blame you sick and awaiting your new job.i couldn't do nothing daily either.
Good luck in new job

Original poster

Zaberwocky · 06/06/2017 08:47

Carol if it makes you feel any better, I started volunteering as I felt so guilty about taking the taxpayers money for nothing I felt like I needed to be giving a LOT back.

Nothing all day drives me mad. I'm so accustomed to being overworked, if anything!

OP posts:

mummyretired · 06/06/2017 08:59

I've been in this position intermittently for many years - privatised industry. Wouldn't wish it on anybody and thankfully now redundant.

Bishybarnybee · 06/06/2017 09:07

Can this really be true in these days of massive public sector cuts?

Particularly the friend saying she does one day of work a fortnight?

Though it reminds me of hearing a contractor boast that it was easy to rip off the public sector - he was very self righteous about it and then I thought - in effect, you are boasting about stealing from the taxpayer.

If this is true, your friend has a moral responsibility to raise the issue with someone who can do something about it - not just sit there in a cushy number moaning about the council.

And obviously it's a bit different for the OP who is pregnant and struggling at the moment - but if a manager really has said "everyone else does nothing", that is criminal when you think how hard pressed the frontline public services are. I have just left a job in a school and there was literally never a minute when you were not working, getting to the loo was a major achievement.

If multiple people on mumsnet are experiencing this, I think there is a moral duty to report it at the highest level. Otherwise, there is a risk of it sounding like exaggerated public sector bashing, particularly as we come up to an election where the conservatives are so keen to cut public services to the bone.

OverAndAbove · 06/06/2017 09:13

I agree with the above. Given how hard the rest of the public sector works, I'm quite shocked no one has whistle-blown on this. Who do you think is paying for all these salaries?

And they should definitely divert the money to my department, who are all working their socks off, in the face of more and more cuts!

Original poster

Zaberwocky · 06/06/2017 09:21

I completely agree, its criminal. It needs to be looked at. The cuts made, as I'm sure many will agree, were to services that didn't NEED to be cut.

I've read of plenty of civil servants in a similar situation to myself. I wouldn't be shocked if we all worked for the same body (obviously I can't say exactly where I work, though I think from my previous posts you could make a good guess).

As I stated in my OP, I've gone through several layers of management to address my non existant workload. People who are incredibly senior and high ranking have no interest in resolving my issue. Or my colleagues. They seem to genuinely think this is okay. And it's not a matter of fluctuating workload. It's consistently low.

I think what we really need to question, is why frontline services suffer, yet other departments (for example, my own records department) is full of people twiddling their thumbs.

It's so difficult. There's so much I want to say, but I'm going to drop myself in it and out myself.

OP posts:

Mrsdraper1 · 06/06/2017 09:24

Bishybarnybee it's not like this everywhere in the public sector. I recently took redundancy after 16 years with a local authority. I managed the civic reception with 22 staff of my own and several other services "renting" a desk to hold surgeries.
In the whole time I was there we were always busy but in the last 4 years it has reached a whole new level as other departments staff cuts have kicked in meaning those on the front line have to do more as the back office is doing hardly anything now. And some of our team were made redundant including me.
We did a lot of work with people on benefits, victims of domestic violence, the homeless and it's got harder and harder as you no longer have help to offer in times of crisis.
Very sad. It was a lovely team to work with, caring and hardworking. I miss them all still, it was like a family. And it's not being replaced with anything except online.
I'm sure there still are areas where it's like your stereotype of civil service but I think there's less places to hide for that kind of thing now as the cuts have gone to the bone now.

Original poster

Zaberwocky · 06/06/2017 09:33

It is sad. Because my department just shouldn't exist. The money should be diverted elsewhere. This is the result of poor management, and poor job evaluation and analysis. I don't see how my job for example, is worth more than any of MrsDrapers team. It's not.

On the subject of whistleblowing, again this is hard to explain without outing myself. It's not a option for many people in this area of public service, these are people who struggle to find work elsewhere, and speaking up could jeopardise that for them. That's probably the safest way of putting it.

I'm also not in a position to really speak up as it would have consequences for the careers of relatives, as it would open up a can of worms so to speak.

OP posts:

MatildaTheCat · 06/06/2017 09:39

Maybe you should put your time to good use and create a dossier of evidence and experience about this unbelievable state of affairs. Then as soon as you are free send it to the very highest person in your organisation, your new MP, the press and anyone else you can think of.

Quite shocking that public funds are being so shamelessly wasted when other services are literally breaking.

Enjoy your time off.

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