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?

I wouldn't if I'd already asked about that date- I'd just be stressed out the whole time, and worried about flight delays etc

This seems the best choice, the system as it is currently is not going to work, because life happens!

i would call in sick - just make sure no one finds out about the holiday via social media etc

If it's classed as gross misconduct they can absolutely sack her, pregnant or not

The no swaps rule they have is legally problematic as it fails to accomodate legal obligations such as childcare responsibility. Their no swaps rule wouldnt stand up legally; would they sack you for not working the Saturday when you want to book it off? who knows - less likely because you are pregnant.

If youre not planning a future there after Mat leave; id probably stick to my guns and be like - i have holiday, I am willing to use, im willing to swap, im willing to accomodate- but I am wanting X date off. Im giving adequate notice, im telling you now I wont be in.

I wouldnt take it as sick; because youve shown your card by asking for it off already but I wouldnt be cancelling the trip.

Did they announce that the swapping policy was changed? Or just tell you once you'd put in the request? If it's the latter I'd push back on the basis that they didn't inform you about the change in working practices

Also are you 100pc sure you can't amend the flights / Hotel? There might be a cost but might be worth it

I’ve never heard anything more ridiculous than that Saturdays rule and given some of the insanity I’ve heard of from some employers that’s saying something

Good idea! It would seem OP wasn’t aware,

A gross misconduct dismissal means the employer has considered the employees actions to be so unreasonable and serious, the employment relationship has completely broken down.

Classing being off sick one day, in a slightly suspicious situation, whilst pregnant, as GM, would never be considered a reasonable response from an employer.

GM is really, really not a factor in this based off info given.

Ah, got you.

@EsperTillus did you reply to this? What actually happens practically if you call in sick?

It won't be gross misconduct for being sick but lying.

Quite a difference.

Anyway, hope it doesn't come to that and everything gets sorted amicably

All the best with it OP

That depends if you still get paid for being off sick.

The employer needs to establish reasonable belief of a conduct issue. They also have to act reasonably. Even more so if a PC is involved.

A GM dismissal for a mere suspicion of throwing a sickie, in a first offence, from a pregnant woman will absolutely not be considered a reasonable response. Even if they had absolute proof the op is lying I wouldnt risk it and tbf my risk appetite is pretty wild.

It would be a very brave, yet extremely stupid employer indeed who would dismiss under GM here.

Even if you self cert an employer can still ask for medical proof especially if an employer has a pattern of absence or they don’t think it’s real.

OP it’s also quite disgusting you would use your pregnancy and fake illness as an excuse to take a holiday!!

I’d feel really annoyed if I found out you were lying about pregnancy sickness to get a day or two off. Surely it’ll be obvious that you’ve asked about the Saturday swap anyway.

Just spoken with my work friend on my lunch-break and she has said she’d have been happy to swap. We’ve done plenty of swaps between us before so would usually have been fine but the new blanket-ban is making things awkward. Management have been giving people blank “no’s” whenever they enquire and cite the drama between Ann and Julie (I’ve explained the story in a previous comment) as to why.

I did have weeks of genuine sickness and they’ve seen sick notes regarding this as I ended up needing the occasional day off but it is subsiding now and I’m back in full-time.

Go sick for a week. Gives you a couple of days before and after. See it as a mental health holiday. They'll have to manage without you completely when you're on maternity leave. Wellbeing / family comes first. ❤️ Lovely partner. Have a great time. 💖

In terms of cover - if I were to be off ill nobody would be expected to come in and cover. It would mean the other 9 people in would have a higher workload between them.

In that case I would just do the swap with your friend. Tell no one. Your work friend comes in on Saturday, you don't.

If management throw a fit, what are they going to do? Send your friend home?

I guess then it depends if you feel bad about that or not. I have not called in sick for decades as I don’t want colleagues to cover my work. So I def couldn’t pull a sickie. Your work’s inflexibility is stupid though and will lead to frustrated staff doing this.

Yes I'd throw a sickie. In fact I have one planned for later this month. Not for a planned trip. Because on that particular day I'll be used and my good nature will taken advantage of so it's time for a sickie.

Hmm. It’s risky but not as risky as pulling a sickie. I wouldn’t want to risk my colleague getting in trouble though.

This is what we all think. Julie was a CF and the rest of us are paying for it. The blanket-ban is only going to cause more problems IMO as people will try to find alternative ways around it.