Advice regarding unpaid leave

[TulipsfromAmsterdam]

Hoping for a little advice regarding current work situation please.

I work part-time - weekends and all bank hols and require 1 day off to attend the wedding of a close family member.

I had already used up all my holiday entitlement before the wedding was arranged so requested unpaid leave which has been turned down due to no other member of staff available to cover.
This wedding means a lot to me and my family and I feel very sad at the prospect of not being able to attend. My employer is aware of this but unable/unwilling to agree so I am in a difficult position. My question is if I was to ring in sick on this occasion where would I stand?

TIA

On very thin ice. It's essentially pulling a sicky, and if you get caught you will be disciplined.

I'd discipline a member of staff that did this.

Agreed. You're asking to be disciplined or even dismissed if you do this.

I would definitely take disciplinary action against an employee who went off sick under these circumstances.

If I was your boss you'd be interviewed on your return to work and then disciplinary proceedings would begin, including probably suspension pending the hearing. The outcome of that hearing could be dismissal.

Can you ask a colleague to cover you?

I second approaching someone to cover yourself rather than asking your boss. You can make whatever deal you like with them then and it's harder to turn down the person needing it than the boss I've always found.

Phoning in sick, well they will know what you've done won't they. Depending on your company will depend how they deal with it. Some would dismiss others might discipline.