To make up physical illness

[MarySmit]

As I don't feel I can tell work I need time off due to mental health/exhaustion/burn out?

It's unlikely they would be understanding unfortunately. If it makes a difference, I work in a very emotionally demanding job, which can also be physically demanding.

Working in the kind of environment you do means that they will probably have other staff off for mental health / burnout reasons. Ideally they will have processes for how to deal with it and can offer support. Although I can’t speak to how helpful that support may or may not be.

If you are just having the odd day off so that you don’t need a sick note then I can understand why a made up physical illness might be easier to declare. I wouldn’t blame you for doing that but a bit of honesty might help you more in the long run.

Anyway hope you feel better soon.

You should be honest as if you end up being signed off, it will give the reason

Pressed send too soon...

It also doesn't give them the opportunity to support you, or for you to request any necessary adjustments

if you are wanting to be signed off for more than a few days then you will need to be honest as it will say on your sick note.

Best to just be honest as they can’t stop you from going on sick regardless of what they might think

It's just the odd day here and there. I know the support isn't there, as I have seen what has happened to colleagues who have had sick leave for mental health. Sometimes I need time to process the emotional impact from work, as well as recover from the intensity of work and the shifts

If it’s very occasional I’d just say you were ill with a cold or something but if it’s regular like every week / monthly then you’ll end up in a disciplinary for attendance regardless of what you say the reason is.
i know it sounds overly simplistic but can you look into changing jobs?

I had someone on my team recently who was clearly making up physical illnesses when they were having stress/mental health issues or at the very least struggling with the job. I can tell when someone is lying and it annoyed as it prevented me from getting the help I think they needed.

They ended up failing their probation, for many reasons, but the fact they were clearly lying to me to get days off did not help.