To be tempted to pull a sickie?

[ofthelandandsea]

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.

They’ll do their first school play once and once only. Fake a drs appointment. Or be off sick. But go.

I know that. You have to book those out with a loa, producing the hospital letter, proving it can't wait for the holidays
What I'm saying is that the OP is making a good point.
There is no flexibility in teaching.
She's right. The only way for her to go to this is to call in sick.

She can't fake the Drs appointment. The only thing is to call in sick.

@Horses7 like most people I do have morals and standards; by nature of human beings mine will sometimes differ to yours. There are probably things you do which I personally would see as wrong, or morally dubious.

But bickering and squabbling gets people nowhere, tbh. You’ve given your view and thank you; you wouldn’t do it. I would and have rang in sick before when I’ve needed to not be in work but haven’t been unwell as such. However, this feels different because it’s a kids’ play; it’s very important in some ways, in others it isn’t and I’m just trying to gauge how I feel about it. But you aren’t the gatekeeper of morals and standards because you wouldn’t do this.

I think you should do it. Your school sounds impossibly inflexible and your child is only little once. What will you regret more in 20 years time, lying to your employer and missing 1 day of teaching or missing the performance?

I'm a worrier though so would probably call in sick with something you could feasibly argue allowed you to attend your daughter's school but not work.... I'm not sure what would work without sparking too many questions, maybe a minor injury or something that requires meditation that makes you drowsy.

No it’s not….no one can prove you are not sick….you are not tied to the house if you are sick….do you know how long it takes to sack a local authority staff member? …..fucks sake…I can tell most people on here have never worked for a local authority 🤣🤣

I think you're missing what posters are saying, it's not being dismissed for one days sick leave it's being dismissed for the gross misconduct of lying about being sick if the school find out

We're not debating how they'd prove it

Does she work for a LA? It could be MAT.
Not too difficult to dismiss, to be honest, I've seen it done.

If you had taken time off sick and they could prove it, then yes that is gross misconduct.

Forging a doctor’s signature / sick note; ringing in sick and then photos on social media of you abroad, or at a wedding, would likely to be confirmed gross misconduct.

Grey areas do exist though. Like most things, it depends what you’re off sick with, how long for and what you were doing when ‘caught.’ For instance, if you ring in with a terrible migraine but then are seen having your nails done, that’s obviously not going to go down well. What about if you’re signed off with stress, though? Or if you have a longstanding health condition like cancer and you’re having your nails done; would anyone actually begrudge someone that? I wouldn’t but maybe some would.

The point is ‘not fit to work’ doesn’t just mean ‘I am physically unwell.’ It can cover a myriad of things; exhaustion, run down, struggling massively, sick, virus, bad cold, fever, physical pain or discomfort, anxiety. But a lot of those kind of co exist so we don’t go into it on the phone and just say ‘I have a migraine’ or whatever is easiest.

This is one of the reasons why so many teachers are leaving the profession - toxic working environment. It is completely unreasonable for the school to deny this request when it is their PPA, let alone hospital appointments etc. You could go to the doctor and get signed off sick for a week if you described the environment you are working in.

If you hated sounding antagonistic then put it all into perspective, you are at said show, a parent who does not give a damn what children are in the play just their child, and gets you in camera shot whilst jollying with the audience, headteacher sees said camera shot capiche! You would be in trouble for deceit and false information. you asked a question, get off your high horse you are not sick!

@Crankyoldwoman right and?

I am at a child’s show, not holidaying abroad or dancing at a wedding.

I am not meaning to sound antagonistic here but even if my headteacher was in the habit of pouring over random people’s posts on social media and happened to see the back of my very non distinct head, I’m not convinced that proves that i wasn’t too ill to work that day. It’s a bit silly.

You asked for opinions and I gave mine primarily because I’m a teacher and parent - a couple of you piled on me so I defended my comments - obviously that’s not me squabbling.
If you don’t like people disagreeing with you don’t post.
You clearly know what you are intending to do is not right on many levels - don’t throw in red herrings about my views to derail your own thread.

At my academy, even last year teachers were asked cover for "absent colleagues", and those who were off a lot for clear non-reasonable reasons were elbowed out ASAP. I wasn't teaching staff by the way, but even support staff know who the shirkers are.

Of course you can give your opinion, no one has said otherwise and I thanked you for yours. I am also a teacher and a parent; we don’t all share the same opinions on this matter.

I actually don’t agree that ‘I know what I am doing is not right on many levels’ - I don’t actually have an issue with it, whether I do it myself or if other people choose to. I’d prefer to be honest but I’m not able to be so which is just how it is. But I don’t like being off, mostly because it’s a load of extra work and if I say I am off because of DD2, I won’t even get paid for it!

I don’t mind people disagreeing with me at all; what I took issue with is that you think your standards and morals are the only ones that count, they are not, other people will have a different set that they live by, because that is the nature of humans.

They shouldn’t be covering for absent colleagues, shirkers or otherwise.

Are you not allowed to leave during your ppa time? I am not sure of your role but in Scotland, teachers can go home if their non-contact time falls at the end of the day.

Where have I said only my own morals and standards count - I never have!
I’ve given my opinion which is what you asked for - doh! I think what you’re doing is wrong on many levels which is my opinion!!!!
I honestly don’t know why you bothered posting in the first place - you knew what you were going to do and don’t like it when other people don’t agree - it would be hilarious if it wasn’t so serious.

@Horses7 What a shame I love being squabbled for having morals and standards in my personal and professional life but hey ho

As I have said, I have morals and standards; they differ to yours.

As to why I bothered posting, I have said a few times now I’m very undecided about what’s best and welcome talking it through but the bickering and the aggression isn’t getting anyone anywhere tbh.

I would 100% pull a sickie. I have a flexible full time hybrid job and take for granted how easy it is to pop to school for plays, sports days, meetings etc. Given how restrictive your contract is I can’t see a better option really. These once only moments are important.

I’d also add that it’s not remotely hilarious and nor is it serious; it’s a potential day off, no humour in it but nor anything serious, not that deep as the kids would say.

What will you regret more? Pulling a sickie or missing the play? I know what camp I'm in.

For everyone twazzing on about morals and standards- please get a grip, it’s a day off not a bank robbery.

SHe won't be teaching; it's her PPA time.

Inflexible schools like this deserve to lose good teachers and support staff.

I know that she won't be teaching.
Inflexible schools are the norm. No, they don't lose staff because we're hard pressed to find a good school which meets our needs and is flexible.
That's teaching nowadays.