O/t can you get sacked for faking sick?

[TF_nitro]

I work in retail and have just called in sick. I am not sick but i really needed the evening off. I said i had a stomach bug. My manager knows that i needed the evening off. If he accuses me of faking the illness, could i get fired? I am never usually off sick, my attendance is almost 100%.

[Andy GParticipant]

It’s people like you that cost industry billions each year. I hope you are pleased with yourself.

[TF_nitro]

This will be my 2nd sick day in 2 years. I do not get paid sick pay. I get treated like (Moderated) by my employer, which is a huge retail chain, making billions. I regularly do extra days at short notice. I did not asked to be judged, i asked if i could get sacked.

[Andy GParticipant]

Excuses, excuses! How could they prove it anyway. So no I don’t think so. However, it is wholly unethical unless you are attending an evening match.

[TF_BlobbyParticipant]

I’m no expert on employment legislation buy I do believe you would leave yourself liable so some form of action be it a warning or possibly dismissal. Afterall you have committed fraud in essence.

[TF_Ommadawn]

Hope your employer doesn’t read this forum…………~naughty

[TF_dirkdiggler]

i’d say unless your really dropping them in the (Moderated) go for it!!
if all the country had only had 2 days off in 2 years i reckon the country might not be in such a (Moderated),tip~think

Watch the language please……..

[TF_NathanWatson]

@Ommadawn wrote:

Hope your employer doesn’t read this forum…………~naughty

I hope he does, only trouble is Nitro’s real name isn’t displayed! Obviously got no morals or conscience to admit to such a discracefull act!

[Peter1984]

It would be very hard for them to prove that you were not unwell, also if anything it might warrant perhaps if the manager decided to take it further a verbal warning and a sharp reprove but thats about all.

Now owning my own company and running another with the old man I would rather have given you the time off as stress would and could be the by-product of a situation like this. Im not saying its right, but there are times when something like the above occures.

Now forgive me Andy G, but stress caused by instances such as this is more likey to cost the country millions of pounds each year than someone calling in sick (2 days in 2 years) for the sake of 1 evening or perhaps 4-104 weeks…I know which one I would overlook.

[TF_NW Cut Angler]

Jesus stop getting all moral on the bloke.

Answer, no. Even if you were photographed later in the day at an event. For a single day you can be ill for part of that day.

I once worked with a member staff ill with stress/depression. Somebody complained because she had been seen in a gym. When all came to it she had been advised by a GP to exercise.

I employers treated employees better, absence would be far far lower.

[TF_bremesParticipant]

Go for it mate,no doubt some of those taking the moral high ground have never been a naughty boy ever……..yeh right~naughty

[TF_youngy]

he cant prove that you were not sick..so (Moderated) them i say.
Well done managers couldnt give a (Moderated) about you most of the time unless you are impacting on them anyway.

well done enjoy yoyur fishing 🙂

Language…………..

[Kev1n]

Just means some poor sod has to do your work for you as well as their own. Completely irresponsable, I thought jobs were valuable in this recession.

[Anonymous]

If I could fire you, within the law, I wouldn’t hesitate. You’re ShiIIing on your employer and your workmates. Well Done !!!!!

[TF_youngy]

(Moderated)…..companies will take everything they can off you and not give a flying (moderated).
Like paying bosses huge wage rises and the workers 2%.Bosses go on jollies, so why shouldnt the workers take something.
right on brother!

Watch your language please…………..

[TF_proper tidal boy]

millions go to WORK AND FAKE IT WHATS THE DIFFERENCE?????????????

[TF_Snooty Fox]

[TF_Honest]

I’m not passing judgement, but in answer to your question is probably “yes”

You can be sacked from work for being absent, whatever the reason. This is usually however after persistant absence and only after full disciplinary procedures and warnings have been issued.

Commonaly not known, This applies to “sick” absence aswell. All employees who do not turn in for work state that they are “sick”. Nobody say’s “oh, i just couldn’t be (moderated) to turn up”

Therefore, absence is absence, and is a break in YOUR contractual obligation to the employer.

If the employer is soft (like local authorities) you may get away with this for years. If not, you can be, fast tracked through the disciplinary procedures and eventually dismissed.

I was once pressed by the MD to dismiss an employee who had persitant and frequent absence, and who had been through all of the warning procedures. I wrote to him without response and started disciplianary procedures (towards dismissal) in his absence. Which again can be done.

Eventually a family member contacted me to inform me, that the person involved had died of cancer and had suffered for months without informing us!!!!!!!!

I did not feel good that day.

My advice however is this, when or if redundancies come to your company i would not want to be the guy that all the managers new had “bunked” off work.

Because this is the easiest criteria to get rid of who you want, and is a dream ticket to the manager that you (Moderated) off!!!!

Watch the language please…….

[TF_punchcrumb]

Right on power to the people and (Moderated) THE MANGEMENT~clap

[TF_NW Cut Angler]

Honest sounds like you work for HR and if ever there was a waste of money then that is it. Slaves to the bidding of employers.

[Anonymous]

just get on with it..enjoy you’re self,who knows?? you could be run over by a bus tomorrow lifes to short to worry about the if’s and but’s….
~clap ~clap ~clap ~clap

[TF_Coxy]

Honest, you shold not feel bad, you were not to know the poor guy had cancer. You acted to the level of information you had and everybody else in your position would have done the same. I would have tried to contact him by phone which you can do as someones manager just to ask him if he is ok.

On the original question. they already know you wanted the day off so that makes it suspicious but you have to prove someone is genuinley faking sickness and that is extremely difficult. If however your boss spotted you in the pub having a few beers that evening he would well be in his rights to dismiss you. It is all about proof and employment law really protects the employee.

One thing to note though, i think if you had a good reason for needing that time off and given your record of sickness and that you are a good employee i think your boss should have given you that time if he could. If he could not i would want a good reason why not.

Second thing to note is that if the above has been observed and you said you were sick when i knew you wanted that specific time off i would NEVER trust you again. Coxy

[TF_Craftytafty]

(Moderated) them, whoever it is, Have tomorrow off, make a long weekend of it and go fishing, if you work in retail they probably don’t pay you enough anyway!!!!!!!!

[TF_Honest]

@NW Cut Angler wrote:

Honest sounds like you work for HR and if ever there was a waste of money then that is it. Slaves to the bidding of employers.

No i was a production manager, we never had HR dept. And I agree the biggest waste money.

[TF_Honest]

Quote Coxy, It is all about proof and employment law really protects the employee.

Slightly disagree Coxy, you do not need proof.

It’s all about following procedures, even to the letter in the warnings etc.

If unauthorised absence is a reason for disciplinary action in your companies procedures. Then action can be taken regardless of the reason for absence.

I repeat, absence is absence

I and my company were taken to an industrial tribunal by an employee who quote “didn’t think it was fair, to be dismissed for absence because he was really sick”. (constsntly I might add)

He lost by miles, because we followed all the procedures, warnings, counselling etc etc etc.

We didn’t have to prove that he was faking it.

The industrial tribunal considers that when the company made the decision did they follow the procedures in a fair and even manner. Giving the employee the opportunity to address the concerns. They do not make judgement on the companies process, if it is fair and applied correctly.

[TF_NW Cut Angler]

If you are dismissed for absence you cannot win at an Industrial Tribunal unless the employer has been incredibly stupid. The case law that exists only requires employers to make reasonable efforts. Until that case law is fought and beaten no employee stands a chance.

However, if an employee has only missed 2 days in 2 years it would never come to dismissal IMO.

[bigroachParticipant]

if ur boss is a ass go for it, you owe them nothing……. dont feel bad about it. at my last place u was aloud to be sick 6 times in a year before getting sacked. you had to go off sick 3 times before getting a warning which was on record for 12 months. well i was always on warnings for sickness. my advice if your gonna do it have a week off. sod them

[Saggy Nets]

And the moral of the story is….Dont ask the tf forum for advice on pulling sicky’s in the future…..you’ll never get a straight answer!!! haha.

[TF_ScottT]

I’m a retail manager, check your staff handbook and see what it says for gross misconduct, in ours going sick but working somewhere else is classed as such and would be instant dismissal. Having the odd day sick wont be classed as such.
If your sickness record is as you say then its highly likely that nothing will be done or said, at worst you might get an informal warning. Just ask about and see what action has been taken to others you work with when they have had a sick day off.

[TF_Gillbo]

I take a more liberal view on it. Some people are genuinely off ill more than others so its only fair to even it out. If you are not taking advantage of this then you are missing out.
My only advice is dont be off for more than 3 consecutive days though as that is a notifiable illness and will require a doctors note. Other tips are dont go back with a sun tan and dont get seen in your local boozer by the receptionist LOL!

[TF_peanut]

future reference say the mrs is ill and you need to look after the kids most companies cannot discipline or sack on the grounds of family responsibilties
with an impecable attendance record sometimes we/i think bollox to it and blag one or two every 3 years i deserve it
without the blaggers who i manage going off stressed because we ask them for a decent days work for pay and then say it’s stress related

[Saggy Nets]

Anybody guess which swear words i’m using??

Sorry couldnt resist!

(Moderated)……. Neither could I … LOL.

[TF_dave brittain]

Don’t do what my mate did and get caught fishing a match by his boss when he had phoned in sick that morning – Instant dismissal and not a leg to stand on ~naughty

[Anonymous]

Gillbo, what on earth are you suggesting ???? What a load of (Moderated).

‘Even it out ‘…’taking advantage’…’missing out’ .

For goodness sake the guys lying & cheating and you think it’s OK to the extent that you’re advising him on how to do it more.

I hope his bosses find out and sack him and then employ someone with a sense of responsibilty and some morals.

And don’t give me this **** about bosses earning this that and the other. Two wrongs do not make a right. It’s wrong and dishonest. Plain and simple.

[TF_daveroberts]

I’m not getting into the morals of whether it’s right or wrong to take a sicky but…

Doesn’t it sum up where this country has gone to that someone needs to ask if skiving is a sackable offence!

20 years ago there would have been only one answer!!!

[TF_carpcruncherParticipant]

I would deleate your post mate just incase !Different companies have different rules in absence management. No doubt you will have to fill out return to work form when you get back , and if it is proved you were not sick , by what you have posted on here you could then be sacked for falsifying company documents!!

If your going to do it …then dont annouce it to the world!!~think ~think

[Author]

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