AIBU to phone in sick for a job interview next week?

[Sam155320]

Been at my current workplace for 8 years now however I’ve not been that happy there lately so I’ve been applying to other jobs. Most of work colleagues know I’m not happy at present job. I have a job interview on Wednesday of next week. Should I phone in sick that day or go in Tuesday saying I’m not well & phone in sick on the Wednesday?

Can't you take some annual leave to attend?

Annual leave has to be done 3 weeks in advance so can’t use that

I can take leave when needed or work flexi hours around personal appointments so I would take a half day or the time needed for the interview. If you can't do that, then just call in sick on the day.

I think it depends quite a lot on what job you do. If you are middle management in a professional job, and the interview will require references and a month's notice either side then don't call in sick. It is unprofessional and will bite you in the arse with your current job who will know that you pretended to be ill to go for an interview.

If you are applying for part time work in a pub, perhaps, then go for it.

I work in a Day Nursery

Migraine

You don’t really have any choice. If it’s 3 weeks notice to take leave, every single person who wants a new job will be calling in sick for their interview.

Is it best to call in sick on Tuesday (day after Bank Holiday Monday) & be off Weds as well or go in Tuesday and call in sick Weds?

Do whatever you want. Might be better to take the day before as well so you can prepare.

I had never pulled a sickie in my life, until I needed a day off for an interview and there was no way a day would be granted, and the interview couldn’t be moved.

I got the job and have been there 10 years, leaving an awful new department manager that was affecting my MH.

Good luck op.

Are you not entitled to time off for interviews? Everywhere I’ve worked has allowed this as otherwise how would you get new jobs?

Better to be sick Wed -Thursday, or they will think you are just after a long weekend!

I would go in Tuesday and take Wednesday off, or say you have an urgent doctors appointment at x time so that you just have time off for the interview

Just tell them you are going for an interview and need unpaid leave. If the new employer likes you and requests a reference, you really don't want your old employer being pissed off with you for leaving in the lurch when you could have warned them ahead of time!

100% phone in sick, it’s not ideal of course, but I think that’s pretty standard. The fact you’re weighing it up at all say’s you’re a good employee.

I’ve never worked anywhere that has allowed this, outside of the normal annual leave rules.

My job allows time off for interviews. However, I always wonder… then they’ll know the person wants to go, and wouldn’t it be awkward?

Nor me, I'm always surprised to hear that people can do this. It's always been a "don't ask, don't tell" thing everywhere I have worked. And imagine how awkward it would be if you told them, and then didn't get the job.

In my job I would be able to take unpaid leave/or makeup the time. I am guessing in a nursery with ratios and everything I guess you do not have the same choice. I think in that case you could get a case of diarrhea at the end of the working day, the day before. 48 hour I assume applies to staff too. At least then it give them time to arrange cover. However ideally I would schedule the interview out of hours or on your lunch break via teams etc.

Sackable offence. Won't the interviewing employer want references?

Just on Wednesday and make sure you don’t tell any of your colleagues no matter how much you think you can trust them, these things tend to slip out!

Can’t you just disappear for part of the day, when you have the interview, by just saying you’ve lost a filling/toothache, so need to have a couple of hours off to go the dentist? They presumably don’t know which dentist you use, so you could just say it’s a distance away. Then I guess at least you’ll be in work part of the day.

Many years ago a colleague was summarily dismissed without notice for this. They ran into another colleague also applying in the waiting room. I wouldn’t risk it.

But why would taking sick leave be a sackable offence? And why would it impact on references?

If you take tues and weds off it will look like you added a sickie to the holiday. So if you got the job they might put two and two together. I would go in tuesday and maybe leave early because you dont feel well. Then call in sick weds. That way no one can accuse you of adding the days to the weekend.