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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To skive off work this week ?

194 replies

IKnowItsNotMine · 04/06/2023 23:35

Posting her for quick traffic - I’ve got 10 mins to decide !

Relevant :

  • Im literally never off work with sickness - I’ve had covid twice and loads of other illnesses but will power through 😷
  • It’s lovely weather this week (UK) and I want to enjoy it before we’re back in winter.
  • No one covers my job.
  • I need annual leave for childcare in summer hols.

YABU - Get to work you lazy loser
YANBU - Life’s short, you deserve a week in the sun with no pesky kids.

OP posts:
Flippyflopster · 05/06/2023 08:10

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

DarrellRiversCriminalBehaviourOrder · 05/06/2023 08:11

IKnowItsNotMine · 05/06/2023 08:10

I’ve gone to work I couldn’t do it !

Great responses on here though, thanks guys 😁

How were you planning on doing it? Calling in sick for the whole week?

RebeccaWho · 05/06/2023 08:12

Hi OP,
I did exactly this last month. I rarely took time off sick pushing through, often covered for others so thought ‘sod it’ I need the space mentally. I rang work and took one week off. I’m not one of their favourites anyway but no-one said anything negative when I returned.

There’s times you need to put yourself first, this is one of those times.

Enjoy your week off.

Ionlydrinkondaysendinginy · 05/06/2023 08:17

Don't go back to work with a tan

BrieAndChilli · 05/06/2023 08:17

We have just had 3 bank holidays literally in a row.

if your kids are still at the age to need childcare then thier would also need looking after if ill. I’d be worried that they would be I’ll next week and need care, when mine were younger I tried my hardest not to take too much sickness for myself as I wanted to save all my goodwill for when I had to take time off unavoidably because one of the kids was I’ll or broke thier arm or had a burst appendix. When you are a good employee they are more likely to be flexible when you need it in an emergency.

saying that I have had more time off sick in the past 2 years than in my whole life as since covid work sends us home at the first sign of a sniffle whereas before we would just power through. We can also WFH so I do that if not too ill.

ShimmeringShirts · 05/06/2023 08:19

Your life shouldn’t revolve around work or making your boss money and helping to build your bosses company. Life is short and the sooner we all stop focusing on work and money the better.

MariaVT65 · 05/06/2023 08:20

Do it!

At my last company, I went through a 6 year stint of not taking any sick days. They made me redundant anyway.

Flippyflopster · 05/06/2023 08:21

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

littleblackcat27 · 05/06/2023 08:23

JamSandle · 05/06/2023 00:15

None of us are going to be retiring most likely and the world is going to hell in a hand basket.

Enjoy some time doing nice things while you can!

That's what I'm thinking too. Take the full week and enjoy it!

CherryCokeFanatic · 05/06/2023 08:23

I call this making use of your contractual sick days. I would have done it. Maybe just 2-3 days instead of 5 though

Booklover40 · 05/06/2023 08:26

IKnowItsNotMine · 05/06/2023 00:09

Just needed one to agree - thanks guys !

🤣🤣🤣

toomuchlaundry · 05/06/2023 08:30

@ShimmeringShirts would you say the same if you were a boss, especially if you were a boss of a small business that you had probably poured your life savings into.

OhYeahDefinitely · 05/06/2023 08:32

I agree that work isn’t life and chucking a sickie occasionally isn’t the end of the world. A week off to have fun in the sun, though…nah, you’d have to have some brass neck! I’d be way too anxious of getting caught out.

CharlieRight · 05/06/2023 08:39

If you think you can get away with it carry on.

I have a personal policy of using sickies for interviews

maddiemookins16mum · 05/06/2023 08:40

ShimmeringShirts · 05/06/2023 08:19

Your life shouldn’t revolve around work or making your boss money and helping to build your bosses company. Life is short and the sooner we all stop focusing on work and money the better.

That attitude doesn’t pay the mortgage.

PuzzledObserver · 05/06/2023 08:50

Im literally never off work with sickness - I’ve had covid twice and loads of other illnesses but will power through

For clarity - you went in to work knowing you had Covid? That’s when you should call in sick - when you are either too unwell for work, or you are potentially contagious.

Sick leave is for when you’re sick. If you feel like a day off or have chores to do - that’s holiday. And for childcare or other family emergencies, there are other categories of leave.

Zezet · 05/06/2023 08:50

As a manager of a big team: I would definitely not want to know on any level but I would definitely secretely want you to do this.

(No irony)

I expect you to come back happy, cheerfully and motivated, of course.

Wildflowersinthemeadow · 05/06/2023 08:52

briansgardenshed · 05/06/2023 08:04

Those saying yes: - and if the OP was a plumber booked to fix your shower, or your hairdresser who you 'd booked weeks ago, or the nurse who was meant to do your follow-up appointment, or the teacher in your kid's school, or the train driver of the 7.03 this morning....??
You'd soon make a fuss. And if you were the small business owner counting every penny or part of a larger business looking at whether it really is viable to continue?? Or the shopper wondering why prices just keep going up??
But most people aren't bright enough or responsible enough to see that connection - especially if they aren't working themselves and just see "the government" as responsible for everything.

Yes, tradespeople never cancel, hairdressers never rearrange, teachers and nurses are never off, trains are never cancelled or late? Where do you live? 😂

the80sweregreat · 05/06/2023 08:53

I really wouldn't as it's bound to backfire any longer than having a day off.
Plus , what if your genuinely ill the following week ?

Revoltingrhyme · 05/06/2023 08:54

Stealing? Fraud? People have to realise they are all no one to these employers and you take what you can get in life. Have your time off OP. You clearly need it for some time to destress and have some selfcare.

The posters going on about work are probably the same people who prioritise their career over anything and see their children for an hour before and hour after work each day by choice.

Mingomang · 05/06/2023 08:54

I’d probably work today and tomorrow and prep for being off wed-fri
enjoy!

toomuchlaundry · 05/06/2023 08:56

@Revoltingrhyme are you an employer?

MrMucker · 05/06/2023 09:04

It's not a great moral compass if you do this tbh, and you know that otherwise why else throw out the question to millions of strangers? Making us all to blame for persuading you.
If you're gonna do something dishonest like this, just do it rather than announce it.
While I'm here, I'm thinking of egging my neighbour's car because it's ugly, and nicking £5 out of DS's money box. What should I do everyone? Quick, I've got to decide right now!

wingingit1987 · 05/06/2023 09:04

It depends on what you do- will you be missed at work? I’m a nurse, for example, and would really be leaving my colleagues in the lurch. Whereas if you are in a role where you can do bits and bobs from home and won’t be leaving someone else to pick up the slack then maybe it’s not awful. Are you fully paid when off sick?

DeflatedAgain · 05/06/2023 09:06

IKnowItsNotMine · 05/06/2023 00:09

Just needed one to agree - thanks guys !

Just make sure you lay low and don't go out too much 😜