To just get a sick note as a single parent?

[Animalpsb]

Single parent to dd, 2. Her dad works in france in the week so absolutely nobody else to rely on.

I am in a reasonably highly paid job which is full on. Despite this, and despite decent maintenance, I scrape by with nursery fees, student loans, mortgage gone up etc.

I will have ran out of holiday already and it doesn’t renew until September. I am absolutely exhausted. I don’t know how to carry on juggling with no break. I don’t know what I’m going to do and now have concluded I will just have to call in sick for a week. Ive never done this before but I am at my wits end. I just don’t know what to do and need a break. Would this be a crazy thing to do? I’m so fed up

I am summarising the op posts The actual points she has made If you’re contesting my post you’re contesting the op post too

online arguing for dummies ➡️ you fiercely accuse someone of a heinous unrelated transgression to try draw them into your agenda, your subtext. You know I am on no way recommending treatment or intervention but persist in faux indignation . Nice try, but no…

Wanting a rest is what annual leave and parental leave is for. Sick leave isn’t to have a little rest 😂😂😂

It is terribly easy to game the system. GP’s will take the patients word for it not conduct a mental health exam. The little questionnaire they do can be fiddled easily.

I said for GP and OP to determine her breaking point and whether she needs time off, rather than you. Nothing heinous or arguable about that.

OP hasn’t mentioned mental health. She’s tired from working and parenting and wants a week off. She’s literally asking if it’s acceptable to pull a sickie as she’s run out of annual leave. Re-read the title of this thread.

Well observed. You said that. I did not. You tried to draw me on your faux accusatory indignation. As I said,nice try but no…

@Zone2NorthLondon OP does not want a rest. OP has posted here for advice do you think any sort of person who willingly calls in sick at any given opportunity would post here? Baring in mind OP has been holding down her job for at least 2 years.... some people on MN just run away with their own narrative!

The op sounds like she is almost burnt out. Surely it’s better to spot that and do something about it before a full burn out that will require more time off.

Well with a lot of illnesses you are told to rest and therefore take sick leave so you are taking sick leave to rest to aid recovery

Rest and recovery from what? Lack of annual leave doesn’t usually require a recuperation or rest period with a fit note

That's for OP to decide. Not you. Not MN.

Only OP really knows which is which- I have not seen her. I did not talk about 'fit' or 'sick', or 'leave'. But the EXHAUSTION 'in the terms OP has described'. When I am THAT exhausted that I feel I need days OFF, I know I cannot look after a 2 yo in that state.

The consensus is, OP needs to quickly workout the long term plan which is sustainable. Some people have suggested dropping hours, changing jobs, benefits, father doing more. I suggested SS to safeguard DD whilst OP is sorting herself out.

Get signed off for a week or 2 from the doctor for exhaustion. You are exhausted and you will burn out if you don’t get a break. That would be worse for everyone.

If you feel you need a week, take a week. The world won't stop turning, your job will still be there when you return because it is just one week, which is a very short period of time in the grander context of everything. And, importantly,you feel you need this time off so take it and recover.

Take time off under parental leave policy. If you’re not sick and it’s a no AL issue then address it via parental leave
Sick leave as the title suggests is for sickness, not lack of AL and ”need a break”
You can legitimately take time off via parental policy

if you take sick leave it’s recorded as sick leave and you likely have a return to work interview

Everyone needs a break. Call in sick and a full week. Eveyone needs a rest

@Uasked OP hasn't given many updates. For you to jump to a suggestion of social services for safeguarding is wild very wild indeed. Loads of mums feel overwhelmed I did today.... infact many of times! I wouldn't dare call SS though (not shaming anybody who would so don't take that rudely!).

Sick leave isn’t a rest. It’s paid leave on the premise you’re too unwell too work. Not just needing a rest

its a disciplinary matter to claim to be sick if you’re not. It’s called sick leave not rest a bit leave

if she need a rest , address that through work place parental policies

Why are you intentionally misinterpreting what I wrote: I made it clear, that' upon reading the opening post (op)'..... I didn't need OP to have 'given many updates'.

Well, why are you and others using words OP has never mentioned: 'overwhelmed' 'fit' 'sick'. She mentioned EXHAUSTION. Put it in capital letters for you. People suffering from the type of exhaustion as described by OP, need intervention with caring for DC: Relatives (she has none), dad (in France), so the next and easily accessible adult to safeguard DD is SS.

Don't project your own feelings/failure/guilt etc over your own DC on this thread.

@Uasked

Don't project your own feelings/failure/guilt etc over your own DC on this thread

wtaf? Where did that comes from?

Also @Animalpsb Were you a bit naughty and have had too many away holidays?!

Even if so, and I totally understand and wouldn’t judge you for it, as life can be overwhelming, take the week off, but agree that it should be parental leave.

I think the op is wanting to be off work but have the child in nursery, it would be strange to use parental leave if the child isn’t going to be there

@LiquoriceAllsorts2 I don’t know how parental leave works but briefly understood it to be unpaid time off?

@LiquoriceAllsorts2 to be clear I’m asking about extended blocks of time parents can take, unless that’s only in the first five years if I recall, not taking time off for sick children or failed childcare.

I’ve having a brain melt, it’s been stated time again on the thread it’s the four weeks parental leave all parents are entitled too.

Ignore me OP and everyone else. Checks pulse and temperature

@Animalpsb Take the break if you need it. What I will say is - you can self certify sick (no dr note needed) for the first 7days and then after that you may need a sick note (if you want longer).

I would check your company handbook about sick pay too as alot of companies dont pay sick pay till after the first 7days then they pay statutory. So if your already stretched a week of no pay may not make the situation better.

source * I was formally HR in a corporate environment ♥️