Page 11 | To be tempted to pull a sickie?

ofthelandandsea · 2025-12-02T06:28:11+00:00

And yes it’s morally reprehensible but … Work in a school, so can’t take annual leave or anything like that, and it’s my DDs first school play Friday. My school won’t let you have time off for anything like that; they just won’t, it’s just no, no, no. It’s similar if a teacher needs to leave the site during the day, you just can’t get out. I really am tempted to say sod it and say I’m unwell.

BatshitOutofHell · 02/12/2025 18:58

Winterwonderwhy · 02/12/2025 14:11

The thing is op, you never know who what or how that 1% chance you might get caught.

However, the odds are in her favour.

Lavenduhhh · 02/12/2025 19:00

Make sure you call in with something they can't prove eg not a cold. Migraine? That suddenly got better? D and V? So you can be close to the loos at dd's play, just in case you are spotted?

Ahfiddlesticks · 02/12/2025 21:50

Honestly, if you have an otherwise good record, just do it.

A) they'll be really unlikely to find out
B) they can't confirm you are ok to be in work
C) chances of firing you from a one off event in the public sector are non-existent

I'm very grateful that my kids school allows teachers to do these sorts of things, I really don't see why it can't be standard practice.

monkeysox · 02/12/2025 22:28

PersephoneParlormaid · 02/12/2025 06:34

I can’t believe that the school aren’t putting it on at night too, as so many parents work. My kids school offered you a ticket to watch, and you chose a night or day slot.

Well the staff of that school would have to work the evening to facilitate that.

monkeysox · 02/12/2025 22:34

ofthelandandsea · 02/12/2025 17:52

@Horses7 , I’m really not. I actually hate being in this position as I feel that whatever I do will be wrong.

It doesn’t matter how much you offer - and I’ve gone in during school holidays for intervention (unpaid) and after school, went in during OFSTED even though it wasn’t my working days, and so on, I know the school won’t give that back - without wanting to sound soppy it isn’t the kids’ or my departments fault that the school is so ridiculous.

But because we all know it’s ridiculous it’s a bit of an unwritten acknowledgment in our place. Staff phone in sick when their children are ‘hit and miss’; you know where your child isn’t 100% but might be OK, but the chances of getting a phone call are high. And when that happens, we take the day off. We all do it because we know once we’re in, we’re not getting out again.

This isn’t one of those times but it is one where the school have to be honest made their own issues with such a rigid and ridiculous approach.

Yanbu. Some schools are awful. My colleague wasn't told nursery had rang about her baby until lunch time as they wouldn't cover her.

socialdilemmawhattodo · 02/12/2025 23:36

BatshitOutofHell · 02/12/2025 08:19

Pull A sickie. A supply teacher could do with the work at this time of year. From
today start coughing and give little hints that you don’t feel well.

Go to the play on Friday wearing a face mask or balaclava.

Edited

Yes but the school can't do with the budget hit. £200?

BatshitOutofHell · 02/12/2025 23:42

socialdilemmawhattodo · 02/12/2025 23:36

Yes but the school can't do with the budget hit. £200?

Show quote history

So no one can ever get sick at that school because they can’t afford it?

socialdilemmawhattodo · 02/12/2025 23:44

PeachRings · 02/12/2025 08:30

OP, the key is to make it not a “one day” thing. For a couple of days before, complain about something (tickle throat, headache, etc). If you wear makeup, wear less of it. Maybe even have a deliberately late night one day before you call in sick so that you look rough. Call in and say you’re off to the doctors. Take the day off after. When you go back in, no makeup, lots of hot drinks and lemsip. Say you’re on antibiotics for a throat infection or sinus infection. Wear a mask to the okay so you’re harder to identify. It’s really not difficult to do!

Show quote history

Yes as a professional lie repeatedly for days. Do you know what @PeachRingsi think i might know you in real life.

socialdilemmawhattodo · 03/12/2025 00:05

ldnelegantelephant · 02/12/2025 08:42

OMGGG ignore the negative comments and GO TO YOUR CHILD'S PLAY!!! She will remember you being there for the rest of her life. Taking one day off sick wont affect anything! I moved to this country only 3 years ago and I actually find it disgusting how work-obsessed everyone is. Not everything revolves around work!!!! Taking one day off for a family member is the only correct thing to do.

My kid didn't and not at that age. That makes you sound a little deranged.

EINSEINSNULL · 03/12/2025 00:06

NotForTheMoneyandNotForTheApplause · 02/12/2025 10:23

If that's the case I'm glad my children are getting a fuller education in England, I'm absolutely certain their secondary school is not watching Christmas films and making decorations in the first week in December (or ever in fact)

Is that really what happens in Scotland?

Show quote history

No, it isn't. There will be prelims coming up after the xmas break

EINSEINSNULL · 03/12/2025 00:07

Imissgoldengrahams · 02/12/2025 11:09

My children attend a Scottish school, they haven't watched Christmas films but are making Christmas decorations

Show quote history

At secondary or primary?

socialdilemmawhattodo · 03/12/2025 00:09

PeachRings · 02/12/2025 08:51

Oh well. Schools should do more to support their staff.

Show quote history

But you are not even working in education according to your previous posts. What do you know about professionalism and commitments to students? Clearly nothing, and even less about being a professional.

Lamentingalways · 03/12/2025 00:14

ofthelandandsea · 02/12/2025 06:32

I hate sounding antagonistic here but why would I lose my job for one day off sick?

After all, even if I was really unwell I wouldn’t be under house arrest.

Show quote history

Exactly. You could say it’s something like a migraine which could of course disappear at any time. I think it’s unusual for schools to not accommodate things like this. I’m a teacher and I must say in the last 2 schools I’ve been in it’s almost expected that we’ll cover for one another for sports days and Christmas plays. I bet you would only be gone 2 hours tops. More fool them if they are so digid then this is what they can expect to happen. If you’re a TA I bet you’re doing about 2.5 hours a week unpaid already ‘can I just grab you for 5 minutes.’ ‘Would you mind just backing that board before you leave?’ ‘I know your Mum is late little Johnny but I stopped being paid 30 minutes ago so I’m feeling slightly aggrieved!’

Enjoy the play, if reported then you were just feeling well enough 5 mins before it started and take the slap on the wrist that’ll be off your record in 6mths - just in time for sports days 😂

socialdilemmawhattodo · 03/12/2025 00:18

Hellodarknessyouoldprick · 02/12/2025 09:06

In 100 years, everyone posting on this thread, all their bosses, all their co workers will be dead.

I pulled sickies in every job I ever had in order to get some joy out of the one short life I have to live. If you thought I was unprofessional - oh no!! What ever would I do?

I’m not going to be laying on my deathbed thinking about my wonderful work attendance and how my boss thought I was professional.

Edited

Show quote history

Indeed we all will be in 100 years, But you sound like a former incompetent colleague I worked with recently. An appaling colleague. We were thrilled when they left within a few weeks. Now I dont go to work to make friends, but meet plenty of great people. You, I imagine if we ever crossed paths would be on my noted list. Carry on as you want to. I personally find the more I put into life the more I get back. So I dont need to pull fake sickies.

TeacherMcTeacherface · 03/12/2025 00:23

I do think it’s a really sad irony that schools expect parents to come and watch their children’s performances and assemblies but won’t give their own staff the same courtesy.

My school are brilliant and there’d be no problem as long as cover was sorted. However, the fact it’s your PPA is another kick in the teeth. That’s awful. Would they really not let you take PPA at home?! Is there a sympathetic member of SLT who would listen and back you up? It just seems mean and hypocritical.

I’d honestly be looking to move schools. If your DC is at primary, you’ve got years of this wrangling and missing important things to go..

caringcarer · 03/12/2025 00:26

ofthelandandsea · 02/12/2025 06:39

I’m trying to think of how it could bite me and I can’t.

DD attends a very small primary school in a rural setting. I teach in a huge sprawling secondary in an urban setting, although it only takes me about twenty minutes to drive there it is a good eight miles away. There aren’t any connections between the schools.

It is silly because if it was OKd I’d only be missing the last period of the day which is actually my PPA anyway so no implications for cover.

Then tell headteacher this. Say you'll make up prep time in evening.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 03/12/2025 02:16

ofthelandandsea · 02/12/2025 06:32

I hate sounding antagonistic here but why would I lose my job for one day off sick?

After all, even if I was really unwell I wouldn’t be under house arrest.

Show quote history

Because you lied to your employer to attend a personal event.

StruggleFlourish · 03/12/2025 02:31

OP, I don't think what you're asking for is morally reprehensible.
I think that it's absolutely horrendous that you have less freedom in your workplace (ex to take an hour off for a personal/medical leave) then a literal prisoner would have.
So you're saying that the way your workplace is set up, if you go into work, there's basically no way to get out until the end of the day.
But if you take a day off claiming to be ill, you'd have the day off and you can go see your daughter in her first play.

I'm not offering this as an an equal suggestion, just an alternative, would there be any way that someone else in the audience, another parent or something, could set up a video camera/smartphone on a tripod to record this? I know it's not the same as being there in person, not for your daughter and not for you, but if you really really couldn't get out, at least you could see it...

Hellodarknessyouoldprick · 03/12/2025 03:08

socialdilemmawhattodo · 03/12/2025 00:18

Indeed we all will be in 100 years, But you sound like a former incompetent colleague I worked with recently. An appaling colleague. We were thrilled when they left within a few weeks. Now I dont go to work to make friends, but meet plenty of great people. You, I imagine if we ever crossed paths would be on my noted list. Carry on as you want to. I personally find the more I put into life the more I get back. So I dont need to pull fake sickies.

Show quote history

Oh no, how ever would I cope being on your noted list? My life would be in ruins. Give over, will you.

I almost died two years ago. I now couldn’t give a monkeys what anyone thinks of me, and it really put things like this into perspective. Take a sick day and enjoy your life. A job is just a means to an an end. You never know when your time is up.

Uselessgenerally · 03/12/2025 08:49

Hellodarknessyouoldprick · 03/12/2025 03:08

Oh no, how ever would I cope being on your noted list? My life would be in ruins. Give over, will you.

I almost died two years ago. I now couldn’t give a monkeys what anyone thinks of me, and it really put things like this into perspective. Take a sick day and enjoy your life. A job is just a means to an an end. You never know when your time is up.

Edited

Show quote history

Agree with you 100 %

Gettingonabitnow · 03/12/2025 12:11

ofthelandandsea · 02/12/2025 06:32

I hate sounding antagonistic here but why would I lose my job for one day off sick?

After all, even if I was really unwell I wouldn’t be under house arrest.

Show quote history

Because you’re not unwell, you’re skiving off .

KeenGreen · 03/12/2025 12:14

It’s ridiculous that your school would say no given it’s your PPA time as well!

It’s not really a good culture of support if they won’t even consider this.
I assume therefore you can’t say I’m doing my PPA at home, or I’ve got an appointment scheduled for PPA to not impact learning time? And you’ll do your PPA after hours instead?

That way you’re at least not impacting the day of lessons by being unwell all day.

Inahuff · 03/12/2025 12:14

Do it. You'll feel like shit if you miss your kids play. It's important to you and your kid. Life is too short to be putting your work first.

celticprincess · 03/12/2025 12:17

ofthelandandsea · 02/12/2025 06:32

I hate sounding antagonistic here but why would I lose my job for one day off sick?

After all, even if I was really unwell I wouldn’t be under house arrest.

Show quote history

You will likely get found out and it is classed as gross misconduct. A member of staff at my old school was sacked after being off sick but going on holiday.

You wouldn’t get sacked for being sick but wijkd if you were caught.

Horserider5678 · 03/12/2025 12:18

ofthelandandsea · 02/12/2025 06:32

I hate sounding antagonistic here but why would I lose my job for one day off sick?

After all, even if I was really unwell I wouldn’t be under house arrest.

Show quote history

All I’d say is karma is a bitch! No doubt you’re one of the staff members who moans when someone goes off sick! Unfortunately that’s the downside of working in an educational setting, you get the holidays but potentially miss your children’s school activities!