Would you pull a sickie for a pre-booked trip?

[EsperTillus]

I’ve had a really shite time lately with some family events and my mental health.

My lovely partner today surprised me with a long weekend to my favourite city in Europe in April. It’s been booked.

he didn’t think anything of booking it as he knew I had loads of annual leave (will need to book the Friday off) and I’m over the moon. The only problem is, my department requires us to work 1 in every 4 Saturdays and my Saturday has fallen when we’re supposed to go away.

they are usually fine to book any annual leave but there’s a strict rule that you have to do your Saturdays, no exception. It was an oversight on my partner’s part and he’s very apologetic.

The trip isn’t really refundable, he got a fab deal on the hotel and that part is refundable but the flights which make up 80% of what he’s paid are non-refundable. We couldn’t really afford to re-book.

Saturday shifts at my job are also notoriously busy and stressful.

I’ve had such an awful time lately and really need this trip to look forward to. WIBU to pull a sickie on the Saturday?

Can you not swap with someone?

They’ve banned swaps unfortunately as it was all getting too convoluted with people trying to do 3-way-swaps, swapping and then changing their mind etc

Does he not know about you working these Saturdays - has it never come up before?

He had miscalculated and had thought I’d be in the Saturday afterwards. He’s tearing his hair out.

I would do it. Have a great trip. Do not tell ANYONE and make sure nothing on SM

I'd explain the situation and swap, even offer two for one if that was the only way. If you are on leave on Fri then don't turn up on Sat that's suspicious.

You're gonna have to be sick on Friday and Saturday really arnt you

This. Post nothing where colleagues could see.

Honestly I'd go in and talk to your boss openly. Perhaps you can offer to work an extra Saturday. I really dont think you would enjoy being away if you've lied about it, personally I'd be too anxious about stuff appearing on social media

Yeah, asking to swap, getting refused , then throwing a sickie is risky and obvious, so the only alternative is to cut out the middleman and just go straight for the sickie.

I do hate planned sickies so much , the strategic cough on a Thursday 🥺😖 awkward.

You’d have to pretend to be sick on the Friday as well if you wanted to get away with it, which imo always looks really suspicious anyway.

Can your partner not swap the dates? Or change names and someone else go, they pay you, you go another time. Why an earth didn’t he check?

I would normally not pull a sickie in any job (I’m far too suspicious as I think it will mean that I will really get ill!). Plus it makes things absolutely awful for your co-workers who I assume would be called in to help so you get a lovely weekend away while their plans get ruined.

But I agree, speaking to the boss is very high risk, especially if you more or less know they will say no- you really couldn’t pull a sickie after that- you’d get sacked!

this is where I’ve buggered up as I messaged my manager to ask if I can swap the Saturday which is when I got the response of “Sorry but we have had to ban Saturday swaps as they were causing problems”.

Maybe in a month’s time they will have forgotten as it’s a large team?

I’m pregnant as well and have had a couple of short-notice days off for pregnancy related ailments I don’t know whether I could say it’s pregnancy related as it’s a bit harder to challenge then

I would if it was just the Saturday but you have to take Friday as well and be sick then too.
If you are usually a good employee then I would get a vomiting bug on Friday morning and miss the two days.
But never tell anyone - apart from us!

Edited after seeing your post above. If you have already booked Friday off and also asked to swap Saturday, they will know.

Sorry but they will absolutely remember and know you’re faking. You either need to rearrange your trip or go grovelling to your manager and explain.

Oh I didn't realise you already asked 😬 that's risky as hell but you do what you gotta do, I guess.
Congrats by the way.
Honestly, I personally wouldn't risk my job in your situation just for the sake of your partner's oversight - unless he's happy to support you, should the worse happen - ask him 🤭.

They will know now you've messaged your boss about it. And you'll feel guilty all weekend and won't enjoy it. You'll go back to work waiting for the hammer to drop. You have to lose the money I'm afraid.

I used to work a job where I worked every other saturday and two nights til 9pm in the week. I would not have asked up front if there was even a remote chance of getting a no. I would just take the sickie without remorse. There were times when I would have to go to another location when someone was off sick. I never questioned whether it was genuine or not. It was just part of the job. Mention it to no one, and dont do social media. Or if you want to post the pictures post them later in the year on one of your genuine weekends off so no one will be any the wiser. Pregnancy related can be a good cover up as less questions will be asked.

Maybe change your question to should I steal a day’s pay from my employer by lying to them.

Nope.

I absolutely would remember and I would ask for some sort of medical evidence. If you didn’t provide it I’d take HR advice. This is incredibly suspicious and you could end up on a disciplinary (lying to your employer about being ill is normally misconduct).

Sorry but I think you should re-arrange the holiday or consider being honest and resigning if the goodwilll of the job/ your colleagues means so little to you.

Also using the pregnancy as an excuse is low- that’s part of the reason why people are so reluctant to employ women of child bearing age. Plus very few maternity services are open on a Saturday- everyone knows that- so what exactly would you be saying?

And I absolutely hate this attitude- I’ve had a hard time so I can behave like a CF and screw everyone over. Of course you can have a break but on one of the other 3 Saturdays you’re not down to work!

its unpaid actually

Very risky to call in sick after annual leave the day before, especially as you have already asked to swap the day..
If anyone in higher management hear of this holiday, are you prepared for a disciplinary or even worse loose your job?
Very unfortunate that the dates have clashed, sadly it is not your works problem.
Tread very carefully if you do this.

If you are sick, what’s the system? Who covers and what do they get paid?

Well that was foolish!

You either cancel the trip or use pregnancy related illness but I wouldn’t risk it.

If you can’t afford to lose the cost of the holiday then I’d bet you probably can’t afford to lose your job, so no I wouldn’t risk it. Especially as you’ve already asked about that weekend so it’s obvious.