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.

We need someone to uphold the petty, punitive nature of our work culture I guess 😬

This one is on the school. Be an asshole of an employer, get staff taking sickies (and additional genuine sick leave too). Thats how it works. I think all employers should manage this by not being jerks and remembering staff are people too.

I’m in Australia and I’d expect my child’s teacher to be at their child’s play. My son’s teacher has just taken long service leave and is missing 3 weeks of school.

Why can't you have it both ways though? Its not a given that teachers should miss their own childrens' school lives. 'It's this way because it's always been this way' keeps education in the dark ages.

In the last school I taught in the HT made sure that none of the staff missed these kind of events, even sports days. He knew he'd get it back ten times, which he did. All the Saturdays I gave up to help run the summer fayre,nights putting on performances, evenings taking netball and football teams across the city, weekend residentials were all worth it. It was a very happy school and a win -win for children and staff. I don't understand management, in any profession, being this inflexible.

Because that’s the rule of the school she’s in. I agree she should be able to pop out during her PPA, but for whatever reason that school doesn’t allow it. I changed employers when I didn’t like my previous employers’ conditions. If she pulls a sickie I’m assuming she would be missing more than PPA if it’s a whole day? (ignore me if I’m wrong) but I don’t agree with disrupting students and cover etc for something she was well aware would be an issue, we all remember how shit it was having a cover teacher. You never got the same work done and behaviour was crap.

This is absolutely my view also. Organisations with rules like this don't value staff.

In real life it's very different when it's theoretical as opposed to being actually faced with it. The absolute lack of bend in society at times is unreal. There's no need for a single person on mumsnet to be piously decreeing that that's the rule.

As I said, it's not necessary for any employer to be so inflexible. That is the reason she's potentially pulling a sickie and disrupting a whole day. On their head be it.

Odd that this logic doesn’t apply to the kids in school who argue that the rule they’re in detention for is stupid and unfair, though, isn’t it? It’s okay for the teachers to ignore rules that don’t suit them or feel unfair, but not the kids?

That’s how you end up with a society where politicians lie about their cvs and the state of the economy or fiddle their books to pay less stamp duty.

I can’t believe you’re not understanding this.

you wouldn’t lose your job for one day off sick.

but you definitely could lose your job if you got found out and were caught lying! Never heard of gross misconduct?

Yes, just do it, and don't feel bad. It's a one off.

I remember went to a school play once when DS was little and I was late and at the back and he couldn't see me.

It was heartbreaking, I got to see how crestfallen he was that no one was there for him.

Eventually, he spotted me near the end and he was absolutely made up, beaming from ear to ear. He was like a different child! I was so glad he'd seen me.

I couldn't go to all the DC's events when they were little, but I think especially when they're small it's good to have someone there for them if possible. Do you have a partner / are there any family members who can stand in for you other events?

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.

The thing is, it’s impossible to prove some things. If OP got herself signed off for mental health, going out to this type of thing would be encouraged.

You'll probably find that those who think teachers should have a bit of flexibility also think there's an unnecessary punitive culture for pupils. Common sense tends to be broad among those who have it.

The main risk you run here is someone seeing you, surely.

I'm by no means evangelical but I've never taken a day off work when I want actually sick enough to go in and where I work I'd be very surprised if anyone else was doing that

The level of sickness absence is very low and people just aren't off for single days

It says more about you that you think that's unusual

This. Therefore if seen or caught on camera and uploaded to social media.....what would happen?

Congrats on going to work when poorly and spreading things around?

Why don’t you go in for the day and then leave early feeling “a bit unwell”.

Surely you aren’t locked on site? No classes will miss you. If it’s a huge secondary who will even know you’re gone?

Agree.

You being there will be even more important for your child. Imagine how your child would feel if everyone else in his class has someone there to watch the play and your child has no-one.

This is a significant event not only for you but for your child. One that you can't replace. Go!

I did that when I worked in a school for DDs first Christmas play.

I didn’t feel guilty, it’s just a job. They replaced me in a heartbeat when I left.

She’s 12 now, something really unfortunate (but funny, no one was hurt) happened at that play and we still laugh about it every Christmas. She remembers be being there for that - not the shitty job in a school that I hated anyway.

Say you are sick, life’s too short.

Thanks. I haven’t decided for definite what I’m going to do yet. I have actually been looking for another post for a year or so but part time is rarely advertised (and yes, I’ve offered to come in on one of my non working days before - nope!)

My school is exceptionally pig headed about these things and I’ve never worked anywhere so inflexible before. It’s pointless trying to plead your case though as you get nowhere.

Calling in sick is straightforward. You ring the absence line and leave a brief message, send cover in and done. I’m sure sometimes the school think ‘ill eh?’ but proving it is another matter. What people are obviously thinking will happen is that at my DDs tiny school, with about fifty children in the whole school, I will be Seen (said professor snape style after harry and Ron flew the blue ford) by someone who works at my school. I’m confident that this won’t happen and even if it did they can’t prove I wasn’t actually unwell, although they can suspect it and make my life miserable but I doubt it; it’s just not happening 🤷‍♀️

If you are considering pulling a sickie then it's best NOT to post about it on an open internet forum surely!

It's sad about the first play though.

Just start to feel ill after lunch, go to bathroom a few times. Then say you need to leave early and head to the play. If employers were more flexible it would not encourage such behaviour

You're not the first or last person to be in this position. Imagine if every teacher took a sick day for a kids event, wedding or some other personal thing they didn't want to miss, there would be several teachers off every day, particularly in December! I appreciate it's difficult but it's in your contract which you signed. What kind of example are you setting to those kids if you don't turn up to teach them just because you've got something better to do?

If you're so sure nothing untoward will happen and you've no qualms about lying, why start a thread?

I think you might be seen on SM