To next time just throw a sickie?

[TotalCarCrash]

A few weeks ago I had to take emergency parental leave from work. My DC was really sick, and I had to take them the hospital and stay home with them the few days after. I was honest with work, and my last pay slip shows I was docked quite a bit for unpaid leave, leaving me short this month.

At my workplace, I know for a fact that I have the least sickness. Some of my colleagues are off for months, with sick notes, and paid. The last time I was off was in, and with Covid.

AIBU that next time I have an emergency, I’m just going to tell them I’m sick. I have an issue with my car at the moment and it’ll mean me taking a days holiday to fix, and I’ve used up most of my holiday. I’m really tempted to call in sick.

That would be fraudulent and could get you the sack.

Well if you’re prepared to be sacked if/when they find out, then yeah do it.

You can still get your car fixed if you're sick.

I know for a fact that I have the least sickness.

You won't have if you pretend to be ill when you are perfectly well enough to work but just selfishly want time off.

Do they give you “days off for dependants”? Mine does, cant remember how many days ~ 3? Otherwise yes use sick days, they wont know

I just don’t see how this is fair. I’ve had my pay docked, but others are off at the drop of a hat. One of my work colleagues has been off sick 6 times since Feb and got full pay.

Hmm I'm usually on the side of the employee in these things, but I think asking for sick pay when you aren't sick, because other people get it (because they ARE sick) is a bit of a reach...

I do get your frustration though with there being no flexibility in an emergency situation. A lot of places now give you a day or two for emergency childcare, which I think is a lot better. It isn't like it's your fault your dc was ill. The car thing though... Will it really take you personally a whole day to sort or can you take a half day or something to drop it off?

It is actually difficult for employers to record time off for stuff like that. They can't record it as sick days because you were not sick. You can take unpaid parental leave, and that is what they seem to have assumed you wanted.

So tell them it isn't fair. The sickness of other colleagues is nothing to do with you.

If you want to lie and defraud your employer by pretending to be sick when you aren't, go ahead. There'll be plenty of posters with similar lack of ethics and morals who'll agree with you.

Because she was off sick, whereas you used parental leave

Two wrongs don't make a right.

Fraud is the easiest grounds to get rid of you.

Don’t.

I've done it if my son is sick and we will just be at home. Or me or dh have put a holiday in. I couldn't afford to lose my wage either and not everyone has someone to ask

Of course pull a sickie. Everyone does it sometimes. Your workplace clearly isn't very parent friendly.

Sorry but I absolutely would. Who’s going to know if you say you had a stomach bug or a migraine? Others at my work are the same, they take sick leave at the drop of a hat, and I’m the same as you - hardly ever sick. I would definitely be using one of my days towards an emergency as why should I not get paid for that but someone sitting at home with a cold or a hangover should?

Sick leave is not annual leave. There is no entitlement to sick leave unless you are sick. Unpaid leave, e.g. parental leave, is unpaid. None of this entitles you to an extra paid day to get your car fixed.

Ok, well I was just asking. I’ve worked there 6 years and I’ve never thrown a sickie. I’m pretty sure my colleagues do.

In the past I’ve dragged myself to work if I feel unwell. I’ve had terrible back pain, horrible insomnia and even a fractured wrist in the past year. From now on, if I’m not feeling great, I’m calling in sick.

In the past I’ve dragged myself to work if I feel unwell. I’ve had terrible back pain, horrible insomnia and even a fractured wrist in the past year. From now on, if I’m not feeling great, I’m calling in sick.

Well, yes. This is what sick leave is for.

I would definitely be using one of my days towards an emergency as why should I not get paid for that but someone sitting at home with a cold or a hangover should?

Because it is fraudulent and illegal.

I live in Australia and work in the public sector. We all get an allocated amount of 'personal leave' per year that can be taken for sickness, emergency childcare, funerals etc. Its so much more flexible. I don't understand why more places don't adopt this.

It’s not very parent friendly. I’ve seen some people make the time up, but our new manager wouldn’t allow that.

Do you have any policies at work that cover emergency leave?

So would I.

I would too.

I would. No issues.