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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not go to work tomorrow?

47 replies

Honeydukes92 · 01/05/2019 23:08

I work for a large multi nat and they are amazing- I love my job.

...but I’m about to graduate uni.

My dissertation is due in on Friday and TODAY at lunch time my tutor emailed me to say that an entire section of it needed to be redone. 😦

I’ve been working on it for weeks to avoid this happening and thought I’d done really well. I’d met with my tutor last week but as he’s swamped with others in the same boat he didn’t feedback until today.

I’ve worked furiously all afternoon and now feel both dizzy and sick from the stress. I simply can’t turn it around in time but ‘I’ve got to go to work tomorrow’ isn’t an excuse the university will accept or offer an extension for.

The things is, work have already let me drop to part time hours in the run up to deadlines, which is amazing of them. So I feel terrible. But I was limited on how prepared I could be as was restricted by data collection dates.

In fairness I do usually go above and beyond and am a pretty good employee- but still!

If I go to work tomorrow I WILL NOT get this dissertation completed to a high standard. I’m already accounting for staying up most of tonight and before/ after work tomorrow.

I don’t know whether to just call in and be straight with them!

OP posts:
JessieMcJessie · 01/05/2019 23:11

Is your degree going to benefit your employer? If yes, they may let you have the time off if you explain about the last minute feedback.

If not, just call in sick. Is there anything in your diary tomorrow that can’t be missed?

ZippyBungleandGeorge · 01/05/2019 23:14

Can you ask to make the hours up over the next couple of weeks?

Original poster
Honeydukes92 · 01/05/2019 23:14

@Jessie

As much as a degree benefits any employer. Long term yes but short term no.

I’ve already had today/yesterday off so missing tomorrow would leave them short but not drastically so.

I would rather tell them the truth and risk them saying no than call in sick (even though I feel sick with anxiety) as they’re a lovely employer and it’s a close team. I actually respect my manager and she will obviously know what I’ve done 🙄

OP posts:
janetforpresident · 01/05/2019 23:20

I would ohone in sick in the extreme circumstances you describe. If you feel guilt about this then plan to put in 8 hours unpaid over time over the next few weeks. No job is worth the impact on your degree that this would have. Can't you book a days holiday at short notice?
If you can't face doing any of this then phone them and tell the truth and take the consequences but don't go in.

janetforpresident · 01/05/2019 23:23

she will obviously know what I’ve done

Then tell the truth but my advice would be not to go in. However good an employer they are they are just an employer. Your degree will be with you for life.

BummyKnocker · 01/05/2019 23:24

Can you work from home? I would take the day off and work at home to catch up.

Been there, did what I suggested.

mightskys · 01/05/2019 23:24

You have two options

  1. Call them and explain and risk them saying no. Then you have to go in and rush the dissertation.
  1. Call in sick and work on the dissertation.

As great as your employer is, how likely are they to agree to the first option and how much will you regret calling in sick in 5/10/20 years time when the employer may be a distant memory. Employers may be nice but how loyal to you are they? (If very loyal they should agree to first option)

If you do call in sick, what is the worst that can happen? Will they give you a warning or fire you?

Original poster
Honeydukes92 · 01/05/2019 23:24

@Janet

I know. I know that my degree has been cripplingly expensive and will be with me for the rest of my life. I have to prioritise it.

I’m just annoyed as I took so many steps to not end up here. But I suppose the tutors are flooded with lots of students in the same boat and this has just been bad timing.

OP posts:
BackforGood · 01/05/2019 23:25

I would be honest with them.
Say you've had some last minute feedback and need to get this whole chunk re-written and submitted by Friday. Ask if you can swap a day and (obviously don't know what you can do in practical terms but...) work on Saturday to make up, or take a day's AL or whatever would work for your company.

Original poster
Honeydukes92 · 01/05/2019 23:26

@Bummy

Yes I can work from home but I won’t be working as I’ll be totally tied up with dissertation.

How did you pull it off??? Open to suggestions x

OP posts:
Candleglow7475 · 01/05/2019 23:36

How likely are they to agree to a short notice day off? If not I’d call in sick but as an absolute last resort. Also consider the consequences if they suspect you’d pulled a sickie - is it worth it?

Fiveredbricks · 01/05/2019 23:37

Just call in sick. Jesus.

GemmeFatale · 01/05/2019 23:41

Can you contact your tutor and get a short extension on the due date given the late feedback?

LillithsFamiliar · 01/05/2019 23:43

I don't see how you can be honest with them. If they refuse to allow you the time off, you're still going to take it anyway. Just say you're sick. If you're up all night and stressing about your dissertation, you probably will feel sick by the time you hand it in.

NameChangeSameRage · 01/05/2019 23:43

Can you work from home and do the bare minimum for a few hours? Ie from 6am-12pm and then spend the entire afternoon and evening on uni work?

Personally, if you can't do the above, I would call in sick. I don't say that lightly. But I wouldn't risk them saying no.

Shoebedoo · 01/05/2019 23:45

Food poisoning .. say u were up all night puking and that u still feel awful ... that ur never going to get a take away from 'x restaurant' again .. that u feel awful after having 2 days off.. none of der bees wax re tutor etc They'll just think u didn't get it done over d last 2 days! D less u tell them d better .. just make sure u stick with that story with ur colleagues then d white lie won't come back to bite u!

thelastgoldeneagle · 01/05/2019 23:46

Bloody hell, why is the uni so disorganised?? Take a sicky

Shoebedoo · 01/05/2019 23:50

PS best of luck completing it! I'll never forget completing my one in geography .. going back 20 yrs ago yikes ... computers weren't what they are now .. computer started configurating and I hadn't saved my work and had to stay up all night retyping it ... Twas a nightmare! Lovely to have a hardbound copy of it with gold writing up on a bookshelf and to know that 3rd yrs have access to my other one in d library

BedraggledBlitz · 01/05/2019 23:50

Call in sick. It's more important that you get the dissertation done. It's not like you are going to make a habit of it.

mrsfollowill · 01/05/2019 23:51

If ever it was worth taking a sick day then this is it- stop with the worry, call in sick with D&V in the morning and get on with it- no-one will die!
I'm sure if you phoned to explain to your employer they would have every sympathy but they may not be able to grant the time off under these circs. I understand you may feel bad ( I would too!) but as it is a one off occasion it's not the crime of the century.

weaselmummy · 01/05/2019 23:56

Any reasonable employer should allow you to take a day's annual leave in these circumstances. If you lie, this will make you more stressed out

Grainedmonkey · 01/05/2019 23:59

The service from uni is a disgrace. Fees of 9k plus a year and they have put you in this position.! I agree you need to prioritise your degree at whatever cost , just do what you need to do ,

Reasonstobeearful · 02/05/2019 00:03

If you've had the last two days off already for college won't they know you're lying? Better to ask for leave.

Original poster
Honeydukes92 · 02/05/2019 00:22

I’m clutching my laptop right now and swigging coffee like it’s going out of fashion.

Tbh I don’t blame uni, they’ve been really good but obviously just before dissertation they have a load of students all wanting attention and input at the same time!

Ideally my data collection would have ended earlier and I could have had longer to iron out the kinks...but hey ho. It is what it is. Just annoyed at myself...and starting to go a bit cross eyed!

OP posts:
Original poster
Honeydukes92 · 02/05/2019 00:24

*TBH I sort of blame myself for thinking that the section in question was FAR better than it was.

Usually I think it’s crap and then it miraculously does well. Lucky I sent it in for feedback though else I’d have been tanking 1/3 of my grade!

OP posts: