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 think you should, it’s absolute nonsense. I’ve genuinely never heard of such a stupid policy.

So someone could book a two week holiday months in advance. The leave is granted over the Mondays to Fridays. But then a few weeks before they’re due to go a Saturday is scheduled in the middle of it? Absolute madness. Who dreams this stuff up? Clue: someone who themselves doesn’t have to comply with such idiotic policies

That is a good idea. It is causing a lot of stress and upset. So simple to book annual leave if it’s a weekday but if on a Saturday you are screwed. People have missed weddings, kids birthdays, had to re-arrange holidays. Despite having a coworker more than happy to swap!

Not if she rings in sick with a pregnancy ailment

Do it and enjoy your trip, just don't post about it on social media

So, lie then?

If you have HR or a union go to them.

If you don't get your colleagues together and protest but put a plan togethet that would work for both sides and present that don't just complain.

The annual leave being generous is completely worthless when you only get ypur Saturday rota 5 weeks in advance and can't mark any of them as dates to avoid. You can't guarantee a full 7 days or even longer off until that rota comes out which events like holidays, and weddings even your own wedding would have to be scheduled at very short notice.

I suspect your contract says nothing about any of it other than the actual requirement to work one in four Saturdays.

So either propose a swap system that works or that the rota for Saturdays is published at least 6 months in advance

Well yeah. The company seem they are treating their employees like arseholes so they deserve no better

Precisely. Yet no doubt they’ll send out an arsey email in a few weeks moaning about the amount of Saturday sickness calls.

This! If you trust your work friend then just do that.
Have they actually got a written policy about the Saturday swaps and has it been through HR? I'd just crack on with the swap.

It'll be so obvious you're lying now so you'll have to rearrange your trip. You wouldn't relax properly anyway knowing you've lied.

No they don’t!!! Jesus, get a grip!

they have rules to follow just like everyone and everything else.

remember, these ‘shit’ employers pay people’s wages.

dont like how a company is ran, well off to fuck you go.

i genuinely can’t believe how many people are happy to continuously lie and take the piss.

its called respect, its a simple thing that many people don’t have.

Do you genuinely think that a new policy for existing employees meaning people who booked a holiday over Easter months ago would need to cancel if they get rotaed on that Saturday is reasonable?

That’s all you take from my post?

honestly? If the company has a new policy then yes… bloody unfair I do totally agree

people don’t like it, then quit… lying is the lowest thing to anyone….

No, they shouldn't all have to quit. Convenient if they do as then they can put this lovely policy in the contract of all the new employees.

And yeah it kinda was what I took from your post as you keep banging on about rules and respect. Changing their contractual terms of annual leave and working hours because of one woman's behaviour isn't respectful. It's treating them like children. It's also borderline discriminatory - there's no paid childcare on Saturdays so what are single parents meant to do if they can't swap?

Have you actually explained why you are asking? As in setting out that your DP with every respect for the 1 in 4 rule has genuinely messed up? I know they think they need to draw a line and it’s a funny one as to whether anything could find the chink in the armour where they might say yes.

otherwise what would actually happen if people played dumb and just sorted the swap? So your colleague working on her anniversary rocks up the week early and covers the colleague missing child’s birthday?

Only pull a sickie, or go in any way without permission, if you are ok with however they may discipline you if they found out. It's going to be bloodly obvious now!

Oh I agree! I’d have been better off not asking for the Saturday off at all and just pulling the sickie.

Happily without an ounce of guilt

I do not think the contract here is reasonable. You should be able to book leave in advance (5 weeks is not enough notice). If you book leave around a date, you should also be able to book off the Saturday. I think they have been very unreasonable as an employer regarding this.