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.

I can't believe they wouldn't let you at least take it unpaid, every school I've ever worked at allows some leave for things like weddings, graduations etc. If they allow those things then they can allow this. Have you got a copy of their absence policy? Is there a HR person? If not is it LEA you could approach their HR.

I guess because it’s not a one off, there are frequent school events over the years.

13 works off a year doesn’t help OP see her daughter’s Christmas performance does it? I personally would rather have less time off and more flexibility in the job when it comes to stuff like this.

Because it's gross misconduct.

She does get time off. 13 weeks in the school holidays to be with her child. Other parents manage on a lot less and sometimes it's hard to get AL in school holidays.

You can’t. Once you’re in there it is like Fort Knox and you cannot get out. I’m not kidding.

Also why should someone have to cover your lessons so you can fake sickness?

Yes, if they can prove you were genuinely not ill. That’s hard to do. Morally it’s wrong, I agree, but then I picture DD wondering why I’m not there and feel awful.

That’s not right. Chn go in and out for appointments? I go out at lunchtime- we just sign in and out and make sure enough staff and a DSL are left and it’s a small school!

It’s my PPA.

My MAT would start a disciplinary if you were caught going to a school play whilst pretending you are sick.

It is the trade off. I don't see school events but I do have all holidays off.

Have you already told them it’s the play? If not I’d be having a GP appointment during PPA and going off. Surely you’re allowed to do your PPA from home though?

If you get caught this could be classed as misconduct and could lead to a formal warning

Like I said, if you're happy to take the risk, then nobody can stop you.

This

If they can prove you were at the school play then it would be easy.

That's fine and applies to most jobs. The OP wants all school holidays plus flexible days.

Would you also commit tax fraud?
You do realise that this is the same: you are paid for work you do, deciding to lie in order to not do the work but still be paid is fraud.

Personally I would not do it, and accept that missing the school events is the trade off for getting all the school holidays off.

Not if you fake sickness and take the day off it's not.

I'm a union rep in a school and this is indefensible.

Ask to take your PPA at home in the evening. Quote STPCD. Don't lie.

I know some schools are a lot more reasonable. But if we want to leave in the day they won’t authorise medical (unless pregnancy and then only very reluctantly and because they have no choice) and if it’s an emergency then you have to find four people to sign a form and then find the original person to sign it. Generally by the time you’ve done that (bear in mind the size of the school) an hour has gone by and given it’s the last period of the day it would be time to go home anyway.

Yes but none of them apply…..
My mum does this. Invents fictional scenario to further own aims. Gets furious on behalf of fictional self if not supported/challenged/met with enough sympathy.

It’s a tricky one. On the one hand of course it feels very special but on the other there are just so many special things - sports day, summer concerts, the nativity where she may have a main part, end of year performances, prize givings etc. A teacher being off sick also has so many implications for everyone. And the benefit of the job is you get all school hols off, but the flip side is you need to be there in term time.

As it’s your last period could you invent a call from the school saying you’ve got to leave to collect your daughter? And just go?

Can you go home with a migraine coming on at the appropriate time, rather that taking the whole day?

I know, which is why I would prefer just to have the hour off. But since that won’t be authorised I think it is defendable.

I have actually done it before because of a hospital appointment I wasn’t willing to wait another six months for; I think that was defendable too.

In theory yes but I know I just wouldn’t be able to get out in time. Otherwise I would.

OP, people on Mumsnet are very against pulling sickie. I had to in the summer to ensure I was given time off for an operation (long story, I was leaving my job and they had tried to decline me the time off so I had to show it was affecting me) and people on here crucified me for it. They said I was all sorts of things.