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Original poster

Calling in sick on Christmas Day?

41 replies

Pumpertrumper · 20/12/2020 10:56

Sorry if this topic has already been broached, I’ve not seen anything.

Is it just me or is anyone else wondering, given the new covid restrictions, how many of those scheduled to work Christmas Day will now be calling in sick/ditching their shifts?

Surely only being allowed one day to mix is going to sting even more if you were scheduled to be working 7-7! I worry less about emergency service/key workers but if I were due to work a minimum wage non key role I think even id be tempted to call in sick now, and I’m really not the type!

OP posts:
Veeg34 · 20/12/2020 11:05

Agreed. I work in the hospital and know plenty of people who were working Xmas day so were doing Xmas the day before/after

thepeopleversuswork · 20/12/2020 11:07

FFS stop with the hysterics.
Massively unhelpful and in bad taste.

thepeopleversuswork · 20/12/2020 11:07

Sorry posted on wrong thread!

AcornAutumn · 20/12/2020 11:08

Oh that’s a good point

Another area where they’ve discriminated badly.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 20/12/2020 11:09

No.

I'm on a 24 hour shift starting at 9am Christmas Day. My job is important to me and the people I look after need me.

It's one sodding Christmas.

Alexandernevermind · 20/12/2020 11:11

It's a bit crap if they did pull a sickie, the fact that they are pulling a sickie means someone else has to drop everything at the last minute and cover instead, which is horrible.
None of us are going to have the Chriatmas we planned or hoped for.

AcornAutumn · 20/12/2020 11:13

@Alexandernevermind

It's a bit crap if they did pull a sickie, the fact that they are pulling a sickie means someone else has to drop everything at the last minute and cover instead, which is horrible. None of us are going to have the Chriatmas we planned or hoped for.
In reality, they’ll just be short staffed

Who could you call at the last minute?

Misssugarplum12764 · 20/12/2020 11:17

I doubt people would call in sick if they do jobs for which people depend on them. But I wouldn’t then think bad of them for moving their big Christmas meal to a different day.

june2007 · 20/12/2020 11:18

Unless one is genuinly sick this would be a very horid thing to do, bad for the other staff, bad for the business. And if it was found out or even if it was supposed the person was taking a sickie it would not go well for them. I have had to work on Christmas day and had I been ill I would probably had to work anyway. (Unless really sick and then someone would loose out as their was no cover for my post.)

BrieAndChilli · 20/12/2020 11:18

I can’t really think of many jobs that aren’t essential that people will be doing on Christmas Day?

CoronaIsWatching · 20/12/2020 11:18

Why is everyone bothered! It's one Christmas of not quaffing booze with despised relatives, you're not being sent to the trenches!!

MadameBlobby · 20/12/2020 11:19

Some people will do it for sure.

supercee · 20/12/2020 11:20

I am due to work nightshift Christmas night and the subsequent two nights and I could cry. I wouldn't call in sick though in case some other poor sod gets called in but I have fantasised about it!

My office technically doesn't need to be open for the 8 hours I'm due to be in. No disasters would happen if I didn't go in so I'm gutted they just can't forgo that shift for one night after the shittiest year.

AcornAutumn · 20/12/2020 11:23

@CoronaIsWatching

Why is everyone bothered! It's one Christmas of not quaffing booze with despised relatives, you're not being sent to the trenches!!
Some people haven’t seen loved ones since March.

Friends and family up north have been in local lockdown or tier 3 continuously.

Some people isolated in advance to be ready.

Not everyone hates the people they see on Xmas day, sorry if that upsets you.

AcornAutumn · 20/12/2020 11:24

@supercee

I am due to work nightshift Christmas night and the subsequent two nights and I could cry. I wouldn't call in sick though in case some other poor sod gets called in but I have fantasised about it!

My office technically doesn't need to be open for the 8 hours I'm due to be in. No disasters would happen if I didn't go in so I'm gutted they just can't forgo that shift for one night after the shittiest year.

It’s an office? Curious to know if it can be closed.
MadameBlobby · 20/12/2020 11:24

@CoronaIsWatching

Why is everyone bothered! It's one Christmas of not quaffing booze with despised relatives, you're not being sent to the trenches!!
Some people may feel that they don’t give a shit about a crappy job that would sack them in a heartbeat if they outlived their usefulness.
AaronPurr · 20/12/2020 11:27

I agree OP.

Toddlerteaplease · 20/12/2020 11:28

Not one if my colleagues would call in sick just because the rules have changed.
I had to call in sick at Chris couple of years ago and I was mortified.

Toddlerteaplease · 20/12/2020 11:29

My parents are being difficult about just swapping to Boxing Day. But I still wouldn't call in sick.

AcornAutumn · 20/12/2020 11:31

@Toddlerteaplease

My parents are being difficult about just swapping to Boxing Day. But I still wouldn't call in sick.
Are they being difficult or are they worried about the fine?
Doyouthinktheydidit · 20/12/2020 11:34

I think some of my colleagues might. Have doubted that everyone will turn up since I did the roster and now I am very worried.
We would just have to work short staffed.

I am so stressed about the fuck up that has become the Christmas roster, 🙃Can’t wait for January.

PrivateIndoorXmas · 20/12/2020 11:37

Some people isolated in advance to be ready

Highly unlikely that anyone who has to work on Christmas Day were able to drop everything and isolate in advance of Christmas.

Much more likely that most wouldn't be seeing family anyway due to the risks associated with their job (myself included). I am not saying there aren't a few exceptions, but the majority who work Christmas are essential workers in customer/patient facing roles.

Xerochrysum · 20/12/2020 11:40

It happens regardless of covid. I was once called in to work on Christmas day because someone else called in sick.

PrivateIndoorXmas · 20/12/2020 11:46

OP I think it depends on the job. Honestly, I don't recall anyone ever calling in sick on Christmas Day, you would sooner drag yourself in even if under the weather. I returned to work sooner than I should have after covid because I would have felt too guilty to still be off as someone else would have to work my Christmas Day shift. I am not sure this will be as big an issue as you imagine! As I said before, lots of us knew we couldn't see family anyway due to the nature of our jobs. Teachers were in a crappy position like this last week, but I am not aware of any in the 3 schools my DC were at who called in sick (the DC seemed to have all their usual teachers). I think most people are just getting on with it and expecting all this crap at every turn!

PrivateIndoorXmas · 20/12/2020 11:59

But Xero maybe they were actually sick, not necessarily "sick" like op is suggesting?