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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To call in sick at work

108 replies

Katypp · 09/11/2023 12:24

I have already posted this in the Work topic but posting again for more responses.
I found out yesterday that my job is at risk of redundancy. Not wanting to go into too much detail, I am in a team of seven, all with different specialities but no-one sticks to these and everyone basically mucks in and does everything. On certain shifts this general work is required for the whole time.
I have been told that my specialist area is no longer required and the company needed to concentrate on the other things my team (including me) do already.
I am the only one in the team at risk, so I am pursuing this as unfair.
In the meantime, I am looking for advice about calling in sick from today. I was on late shift last night (after the bombshell in the morning - meetings etc done before I actually started work) and had to spend seven hours doing the work that was not my speciality area and the very work management have said they want more of, hence getting rid of me.
Am I reasonable to call in sick citing stress on that basis?

OP posts:
SecondUsername4me · 09/11/2023 12:26

If my role was at risk, and I wanted to demonstrate that I do more than just my role, then no, I wouldn't be calling in sick like this. It won't reflect well on you, and you aren't actually stressed- you are being petulant.

tescocreditcard · 09/11/2023 12:27

Yabu you are not sick so go to work

xILikeJamx · 09/11/2023 12:28

They're effectively looking for reasons to get rid of you. Don't give them any

Neriah · 09/11/2023 12:28

No - because the way you have exprtessed this, you are not sick at all. It is insulting to people who really have stress to lie about being sick when you aren't; and it is this kind of behaviour that makes them not believed, or the diagnosis a joke in so many workplaces. If you want to flounce, then have at it, bit prefereably not on someone elses diagnosis. Or you could very reasonably construct a case about why selecting only you is unfair dismissal.

SaltPepperPotato · 09/11/2023 12:29

SecondUsername4me · 09/11/2023 12:26

If my role was at risk, and I wanted to demonstrate that I do more than just my role, then no, I wouldn't be calling in sick like this. It won't reflect well on you, and you aren't actually stressed- you are being petulant.

This is the only reply you need

Neriah · 09/11/2023 12:30

PS - YABU for (a) not giving the chance to vote and (b) posting twice in two areas.

Pizzalover46 · 09/11/2023 12:31

I wouldn't be playing silly games if you're up for redundancy. I'd be having a word with management to figure out how you can keep your job. YABU.

lanthanum · 09/11/2023 12:34

You need to show you are just as good as anyone else at the work which is not your specialism, so keep doing it to the best of your ability.
You need to be looking for other jobs - you might be the one made redundant, and even if not, you might prefer a job that uses your specialism - but give yourself the best chance of keeping the post until you've found something else.

Hecate01 · 09/11/2023 12:35

I don't know how long you've been there for but when I was made redundant and offered an enhanced redundancy package part of the deal was that I couldn't have sick days. I know you haven't officially been made redundant yet but it's something to be aware of if you are as stressed as you say.

You may also need a reference for a new job and you don't want them to say you had a bad sick record, plus you are also putting on your colleagues if you don't go in.

Original poster
Katypp · 09/11/2023 12:35

I can't keep my job. Cuts have to br made and I am the only one at risk. I have to say I am surprised by the responses here. I am late 50s, the news came out of the blue, still have a large mortgage and two teenage kids. I have been singalled out with no due procrss. Iam working till 11pm tonight doing the very work they seem to be claiming I can't do.
I think I have every right to be 'petulant' really but I will reconsider

OP posts:
SecondUsername4me · 09/11/2023 12:38

You might want to be petulant but it butters no parsnips. Pull your socks up and go in and work. There will be consultations about redundancies. Speak up then.

QueenoftheNimbleFlyingCat · 09/11/2023 12:40

I'm going to go against the grain here and say I think it's absolutely fine to take a day or two to process this horrid news BUT I would speak to management and say that you are feeling stressed/upset with the news and you want time to process this and could you have a couple of days to do this.

As you say, it sounds like the criteria they are using is unfair and everyone should be pooled so definitely challenge this. However, it sounds like they need more people to do the roles so just because you are at risk it doesn't necessarily mean they will make you redundant - they will put you into a suitable alternative, this is usually preferable as it saves costs.

GeneCity · 09/11/2023 12:42

This sounds really unfair, I'm sorry OP.

I'd go to work, but I'd also contact my union and ACAS to try to ascertain whether your workplace is following due process. I'd use the your time at work to formally document how you really are doing the same work as everyone else too.

Good luck.

CalistoNoSolo · 09/11/2023 12:42

Are you the weak link of your team? Ex-h had to make a series of redundancies (years ago) and the first people to ho were the ones who were off sick a lot/caused difficulties/had a bad work ethic etc. If there is no chance of you keeping your job you need to start kob hunting ASAP and hope you get a decent redundancy package.

NoLongerHuman · 09/11/2023 12:43

YABU, your doctor isn’t going to sign you off just because your job is at risk - and going on sick leave doesn’t mean you’ll keep your job either. Cuts are to be made and you know that already, they can still fire you while you’re on sick leave. Especially as they can prove this decision was made before you went on sick leave

Garlicnaan · 09/11/2023 12:43

Record the fact you are doing this type of work carefully and if you can start an email trail on it with your boss

Weepingskies · 09/11/2023 12:43

It depends. Are you experiencing symptoms of stress to a degree that means you can’t work? If yes then call in sick, if no then you shouldn’t regardless of how much the news sucks.

SoloSeaweed · 09/11/2023 12:44

Katypp · 09/11/2023 12:35

I can't keep my job. Cuts have to br made and I am the only one at risk. I have to say I am surprised by the responses here. I am late 50s, the news came out of the blue, still have a large mortgage and two teenage kids. I have been singalled out with no due procrss. Iam working till 11pm tonight doing the very work they seem to be claiming I can't do.
I think I have every right to be 'petulant' really but I will reconsider

Well in that case:

  1. get proper legal advice
  2. Be as professional and you can in the meantime
  3. Continue to demonstrate the value you think you bring.

What are you hoping to achieve by going off sick?

TokyoSushi · 09/11/2023 12:45

Calling in sick is the worst thing you can do, unless you genuinely are sick. You need to make your (valid) point at your consultation meeting.

DNLove · 09/11/2023 12:47

Have they actually told you that you are the person that is being made redundant? Have they confirmed redundancy and not someone being redeployed elesewhere in company?
There may be someone in your team that wants to leave under redundancy. I think you are jumping to conclusions before the facts have been laid out.
You're putting a target on your own back of you start messing about now.

QueenoftheNimbleFlyingCat · 09/11/2023 12:52

CalistoNoSolo · 09/11/2023 12:42

Are you the weak link of your team? Ex-h had to make a series of redundancies (years ago) and the first people to ho were the ones who were off sick a lot/caused difficulties/had a bad work ethic etc. If there is no chance of you keeping your job you need to start kob hunting ASAP and hope you get a decent redundancy package.

Your husband breached employment law.

MyGooseisTotallyLoose · 09/11/2023 12:55

SecondUsername4me · 09/11/2023 12:26

If my role was at risk, and I wanted to demonstrate that I do more than just my role, then no, I wouldn't be calling in sick like this. It won't reflect well on you, and you aren't actually stressed- you are being petulant.

This. And so on ad infinitum.

OhpoorMe · 09/11/2023 13:08

Katypp · 09/11/2023 12:35

I can't keep my job. Cuts have to br made and I am the only one at risk. I have to say I am surprised by the responses here. I am late 50s, the news came out of the blue, still have a large mortgage and two teenage kids. I have been singalled out with no due procrss. Iam working till 11pm tonight doing the very work they seem to be claiming I can't do.
I think I have every right to be 'petulant' really but I will reconsider

People are assuming you want to fight the redundancy and keep your job. If not, as you suggest here, then by all means go off sick.

luckylavender · 09/11/2023 13:10

SecondUsername4me · 09/11/2023 12:26

If my role was at risk, and I wanted to demonstrate that I do more than just my role, then no, I wouldn't be calling in sick like this. It won't reflect well on you, and you aren't actually stressed- you are being petulant.

100%

SauronsArsehole · 09/11/2023 13:13

GeneCity · 09/11/2023 12:42

This sounds really unfair, I'm sorry OP.

I'd go to work, but I'd also contact my union and ACAS to try to ascertain whether your workplace is following due process. I'd use the your time at work to formally document how you really are doing the same work as everyone else too.

Good luck.

Yes this.

and paper trail everything. Ask for contact via email.

follow up any conversations about your job, it’s risk of redundancy etc with an email.

Eg ‘just to follow up on our earlier conversation ….’

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