Pull a sicky or tell the truth? Wwyd

Definitely pull a sickie. Surprised the voting is 50/50 tbh.

You describe your job as rubbish, so it's obviously not something you're desperate to hold on to at all costs, versus your child having a fantastic opportunity that you'll be able to look back on when he's older. No brainer to me.

Surprised as so many prioritising their employer over their child really. Or maybe others don't think it would be a lovely thing to look back on when you're child is older? I do though.

Well it will be good for them to brush up their skills won't it?

Totally sanctimonious and ridiculous post

I’m a manager - I have a team of three. If one was already off and the other pulled a sickie (very different to being ill) damn right I would care if I was left to do the work of three people.

and while our employers maybe don’t give a shit as you say, colleagues do - if you are paid to do a job, do the job.

@AutumnIsMyFriend no I don't agree, its just one day and I think it completely demoralises employees if you prevent someone attending something that means a lot to them and can't be rearranged.

I really hope you're not working with vulnerable people or in a critical service.

Presumably the reason you wouldn't be allowed a day off is because it would impact the coverage in your team.

But it sounds like she hasn’t tried?

Clearly I’m in the minority, despite missing so many events I wish I could have gone to as I had committed to shifts and couldn’t get cover for.

OP, I genuinely wish your son well, sounds like he would love it. How do you plan to facilitate it if he starts getting offered regular work?

Shouldn't the title of this thread actually read ' Tell a lie or tell the truth.?

Why not have some morals and do what you're being paid to do?

Every time a thread on here contains a comment about someone lying, the first reaction is to say that lying is a line that shouldn't be crossed.

Yet here we are, some young boy wants to pose for the camera and a lot of answers are saying just pull a sicky. I have never, ever pulled a sicky and haven't had a single day off when actually sick in over 25 year.

Absolutely pull a sicky!

Congrats to DS!

Could you take it as a childcare day?

How is a photo shoot for a 6 year old a 'huge opportunity'? It won't lead to a career or anything.

I wouldn't throw a sickie for it. Not fair on your colleagues. Just find someone else to take him or wait for another chance. It it unlikely to alter DS's life at that age.

And he is 6? How sad

Exactly.

@rand0mstuff

Precisely

Ridiculous scenario

100% do it. Family first always.
best of luck to your son with this wonderful oppurtunity

I’m probably sanctimonious but I would tell the truth. I’d feel a tiny guilt (with pride) every time I saw him online advertising clothes.

If this is a success what are your plans? I presume you can employ chaperones, is that what happens for child actors?

I’m sure when you’re on your death bed OP you’re not going to be thinking I wish I had worked instead of having the day with my son.

I'd literally let my kid do modelling once to see what it's like. And then not until an adult when they can decide. Horrible pernicious appearance focused shit.

I was recently in a similar situation.

I decided to have a last minute unavoidable appointment that I'd been waiting for for months, so it gave my employer a few days to make a back up plan for us both being out of the office.

I absolutely hated myself mind you, but I knew that being honest would have resulted in a no. And I couldn't have a no.

It doesn't have to be a parent who takes them. My mum has taken DS1 to a big modelling job when I had to work. As long as they have a suitable adult doing drop off and collect, or staying if they aren't being chaperoned.

What is it? Do you have time to arrange parental leave?

I sometime take a sick day just because I "need" a day to recentre, so I'm not completely by the book on this, but I couldn't take a sick day and then be out and about around town.

Say child is sick rather than you - saves you having to explain being miraculously better the next day.

You say that like it's a badge of honor.

To most employers you are simply a number, a very replaceable one at that. Unless you're a top lifesaving surgeon or have a skill set nobody else in your entire field has, you might not be as important as you seem to think. There really is no pride in going into work sick, in fact that's pretty selfish for everyone around you.

OP, pull a sicky. It's a one off. (I'm assuming you'll look into arranging chaperones with the agency going forward when you have more time). Especially if you're someone who usually has great attendance, most people in reality, not the warped MN, would be pulling a sicky in your position! Ignore the majority of people on here who are acting like pulling a sicky is equivalent to murdering a puppy. They are either arse lickers, deluded or, most likely managers - the bad type of manager who cannot possibly cope when they have to actually manage a team, or God forbid do some extra work their selves when things crop up.

For everyone saying take a sickie I hope you don't complain if your long waited for NHS appointment gets cancelled or you can't get through on a call line or your childminder isn't available. If you work in a job that isn't critical then surely you can take leave or work the hours back otherwise you are letting everyone down!

I'm struggling with how attending a photoshoot is a fantastic opportunity for a child. I don't understand how encouraging a child to pursue something so shallow and commercial can be to their future benefit.

As a manager I sometimes have to make exceptions around holiday requests. This wouldn't cut it with me I'm afraid, I'd expect a friend or relative to take him. If it were related to his health or future educational opportunities that would be different.