Do you ever pull a sickie?

[buma]

I very rarely pull a sickie.

Probably haven't had a day off sick in a year.

Really fancy tomorrow off.
I'm really awful in meetings & struggle to talk etc. I have a face to face meeting tomorrow with people high up (I'm not high up), and I know they're going to expect me to talk and I just know I'll look thick as shit. The senior people are in the office all day.

Really want to avoid it. So tempted to ring in sick.

Do you even pull a sickie??

Can you anticipate the questions you might get asked and get some answers ready? Is there any data you can get together which might help? I always feel better at work things if I've prepared.

I always think pulling a sickie is like tempting fate. You never know when you might genuinely need your sick leave.

While I empathise with your desire to avoid situations like this at work, I have found that the dread you feel beforehand is far worse than the event itself. Also if you pull a sickie this time, what will happen the next time.

No

No but I also definitely wouldn't in that situation because it'll only affirm in your mind that you "can't do these types of meetings". What you need is a strategy to prepare. Preempt the questions or speak to a senior colleague and ask for clarity on what you'll need to speak about so you can prepare ahead of time. Then make some notes for yourself so if you get nervous you can just read them off. Noone likes speaking in situations like this but it really is a case of the more you do it the easier it'll become. Running away from it won't make it any easier long term. If they are really so nerve wracking for you then ask to sit with a colleague and prep together ahead of time. Most people would empathise with you. I used to hate situations like this, went red and fumbled my words and just got so obviously nervous, whereas now I'm used to it and it doesn't bother me as much.

No I hate being off sick, don’t like letting people down. I have had two days off in last 12 months and I couldn’t get out of bed, let alone work as I had vertigo.
You have to remember you’re being paid thousands of pounds a year to do a job, so do it. If you can’t actually do what is required, find something else. Basically, get your big girl pants on and deal with it.

I think in your situation that it makes anxiety about these things worse and next time you’ll feel even more reluctant.

No. And I think it's the start of a slippery slope when you start pulling sickies because you don't want to do something. We all have parts of our job which we don't like or which make us anxious or stressed but continually trying to engineer it so you don't have to do those elements just makes them seem scarier and scarier.

Never. I often want to but can't bring myself to.

I get the fear too over things like this. Just gotta get on with it.

No, never have.

Yes. Do it.

Also, others will have a good idea what you’re up to.

@buma no I don’t because I’m bad at lying and I overthink of what to say and what a good reason for me to be off would be . And then goinf back having to do return to work form and having to lie , too much hassle .

The dread about it is always the worst. I guess it depends on what you want from work - do you want to progress? I'm not putting pressure on you, but if you do want more pay and a better role, then pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and opening up to new experiences is the best thing you can do! As scary as it can be talking to more senior people, you'll probably find they'll be lovely and I bet you know what you're talking about.

Yes, take it off it if it is causing you anxiety and stress. Life is too short.

I think that in this case it would wouldn’t seem believable, especially if you’ve already expressed misgivings about the meeting.

Woman at work was (reasonably) denied a flexible working arrangement and then went on the sick. Everyone knew she was pulling a fast one because she was peeved that her unrealistic request had been rebuffed.

I wouldn't . Just be you. Even if you're crap/ embarrassing / wrong, the time will pass regardless. You'll get through and it will long be over by this time tomorrow.

Save going off sick for when you need it ...for something fun for you. 😉

No. Lying is tedious and there’s no ‘I’ in Team..🤘🏻

No but I run my own business so it would be counterproductive!

I agree with @Lavender14. The absolute worst time to pull a sickie is when you're doing something you dread. Plus, it's really obvious. Can you possible tell your line manager you are struggling/worried? It looks much better if you say you're not quite ok but you are ready to work, than if you go off sick - at least that way your line manager will see you made the effort.

I've pulled a sickie occasionally in my old job, where my being off didn't have any impact on anyone, any I knew I'd be catching up the work in my own time (paid yearly with no contracted hours, so pulling a sickie just meant stating I wasn't in that day). These days I wouldn't, because my work now is more collaborative, but I am totally open about times when I do not feel up to the job.

I haven't since lockdowns and our continued WFH/flexible working policy.

Before that, probably once a year. But it was never to get out of doing something.

My best/worst sickie was when I was off with sciatica - doc signed me off as I couldn't drive (back in the days before WFH was invented). I went back a week later and faked pain I didn't have to get another week's sicknote.

Then spent that week not daring to go out in case anyone from work saw me 🙄

No avoiding things that make you anxious is not a solution and will just feed the anxiety.

Plus it'll be Sod's Law you'll come down with the flu or something the week after!

No. And to get out of something as a reason to, is not an excuse.

No I don’t pull sickies and when someone calls in sick for one isolated day, I’m 🤨

No.

No, I think about doing it every morning though 😆 but my job is one where it makes life harder for the other staff of someone doesn't show up and I'd feel too guilty.
Also I wouldn't get paid and I can't afford to lose the money.