No prospect of any time off over summer but I need it

[Nicmars]

I work on team of 5 people and the annual leave chart is already booked up for summer and there is no prospect of me being allowed to book any leave.
I jooined this team from another department 2 months ago, by which time colleagues on new team has already booked their summer leave.
Issue is that I need time off, even if just 1 week. Its for childcare, I'm not going away on holiday or anything. Just childcare. The general attitude at work is tough luck, not their problem.
So I'm left with no choice but to consider pulling a sickie. To make it believable it's need to start my sickness before school is out for the summer, rather than the same day or week. What kind of sickness can I have? Ideally to last a week maybe 2. Just till my sister can get here (she's travelling till 2nd week of August but has offered to come and help when back). Need a plausible sickness idea that doesn't sound too cliche or made up.

Isn't this what parental leave is for?

just ask that your planned leave is given to you

Does the leave you booked in your old team not carry forward?

If you transferred from another team surely pre booked holiday should still count?

Did you book leave for summer when you were in your old team and what was discussed about it when organising your transfer to the new team?

It would very suspicious if you have asked for leave and then fake sick days for the same time so don’t think you’ll get away with the that. If you really can’t take leave then have a search for holiday clubs.

What leave had you booked when you were on your old team?

When you start a role you tell them about planned leave ?

Check your sickness policy, but you usually need a fit notes for more than a week of absence.

I had originally booked leave but then grandparents stepped in to offer childcare. So I cancelled it and the slot was meanwhile snapped up by somebody else on the team. Fast forward to last week, grandparents childcare offer was rescinded as they've got their own complex health issues and on 2bd thoughts said childcare would be too much for them. So I'm back to square one.

I agree, why didn't you tell them about your planned leave from old team. Usually they honour it.
If all fails, use parental leave.

Sickness can massively backfire, not worth the risk.

Surely if you are going to lie for more than a week you’d need a fit note from a dr?

What will you do if a colleague sees you out having a nice time when you’ve said you are sick?

Do you have a partner at all who could take some form of leave, even if unpaid?

What are your working hours? Are you full time? Is the children’s dad around? If so, what holiday childcare is he doing?

Are there any holiday camps that you can book for some of the days?

To the people suggesting parental leave, surely that won't be allowed if there are already too many people off?

…ok well that was a drip feed @Nicmars sorry but that should have been in your original post. Do you NEED a block of time? I would sit down with the new manager and tell them the situation. Book whatever days you can book. Whether that’s one day one week or two days the following week. Etc

It’s harder to say no to, but they can refuse if for a very good reason and then have to let her take it at some point in the year.

Is their dad around? (It sounds as if this is on you to sort and unless their dad isn’t around, that shouldn’t be the case.) Is it feasible for him to cover the grandparents’ slot and then you pick up half term?

Or as per somebody’s suggestion up thread, taking odd days here and there and using holiday club if there are any on the other days? (Appreciate this may be awkward, ours all finish mid August.)

How old is your child?

Do they have another parent?

I know it's not ideal but I think instead of calling in sick, you need to think of other childcare options.

Its going to be so obvious if you ring in sick and this is a new role to you.

Unfortunately, annual leave in summer does get booked quickly and "I thought I didn't need any but now I do" isn't really your employers or colleagues issue.

Its unfair to spring sudden, made up sickness on them, at a time when other people are already off.

A better way would be holiday clubs and discussing with employer if there is slight leeway with start and finish times to facilitate clubs if there isn't another parent around to share the burden

So your actual issue is that your childcare arrangements have fallen through. Nothing to do with work.

You need to try to arrange alternative childcare. Clubs etc. If that fails it’s unpaid dependents leave.

Don't call in sick. As others have said you will need a sick note to cover any prolonged absence and it will also restrict what you do during that time. If you were caught out at a theme park for example by a colleague who has the time booked off they might mention it at work.

The best thing would be to talk to your manager and see if there is any solution. You could explain what time you have booked but then cancelled and hope they are generous.
I do think it was kind of foolish to rely on ageing grandparents and maybe you should have checked with them a bit more before cancelling your leave (or left cancelling it til a bit later on just to be sure). I think a lot of grandparents like the idea of looking after the grandchildren but the reality is quite different. Plus it very much depends on the age and health of grandparents (I wouldn't leave mine with the in laws, they have too many health complaints).

Don’t do it to your team, it’s crappy. Ask for unpaid parental leave (although it’s getting late and can be denied to a later point). The other option is holiday clubs

Probably the only thing that would work is bring signed off with stress

When you're complaining about women being disadvantaged in the workplace, remember this thread. This scenario is entirely the OP's fault. She hasn't booked any leave and suddenly she is blaming her company and plans to take a couple of weeks sick leave. A couple of weeks! This is not only dishonest, it leaves her colleagues in the shit as they will have to pick up her work while she is having fun with her kids getting fully paid. The OP and the number of people supporting her are a good indicator of why men can sometimes be favoured over women because, quite frankly, women can be unreliable. This is living proof. Most women aren't, most women are grown ups and responsible adults that would ensure they have childcare in place. It is of course unfair that women are screwed over as it is the minority. But it is not enough of a minority to make it insignificant.

I assume this OP is a troll as nobody is this stupid and it is a very goady post. But that doesn't matter, it puts ideas in people's heads. It draws out the irresponsible and tarnishes the reputation of women.

So the issue isn’t to do with your new team, it’s that your childcare has fallen through. You need to speak to your manager and see if there’s anything you can do, and also look at holiday clubs and book those if there’s spaces available.