Moving House & Stressed, Work wont give me time off should I call in sick instead??

Question

I asked for 2 days off work three weeks ago, and have just been told that I can't have them off (I have over 200 hrs holidays owing)
I wanted them off as I am moving house this weekend (I get the keys on sat afternoon.. so I wanted mon & tues off aswell as I am a single female that has to organise this move on my own and I don't have any family in my city to help me move..and friends can only help me sat arvo & sun arvo.. I have heard moving is one of lifes most stressfull experiences..This I am feeling already as I am awake till 2am everynight worrying how I am going to get this move done..Should I just make everyone at work happy and go in annoyed, stressed and pis**d off.. or should I just take the days off as sick leave even though they will know I'm only doing it to move,and unpack..and possibly get in trouble with the boss??(probably will).. I am stretched financially because of this move and cannot afford to pay removalists or lose my job.. what do you think I should do??

Work has no-one to cover my position at the moment, so if I don't go in they will have to shut the office I work from as I am the only one in there..but they should have organised something when I asked for the time off.. but I think they just thought it'd be easier not to give me the time off???

Answer 1

If it were me.....needing the job and all I would go into work. If I KNOW that I WONT loose my job, I would call out sick. I also suggest looking for another employer to work for. Nothing worse than working for somebody who won't be felxible with you when you are in dire need of it. By the looks of how much time you have for vacation, I take it you don't take off of work very often.

Answer 2

First of all, DO NOT call in sick. The boss will know you are not ill and it will come back to bite you.

Don't stress too much about the move. What you should do between now and the weekend is to pack, or set aside, those items you will need immediately in your new home. Over the weekend your friends can help you move furniture and what you have already packed. Then each day after work, move some items from the old place to the new place. By then next weekend you should have all moved over and really be able to start setting up your home.

And during your next work evaluation, or attempt at a raise, bring up the fact that you are a loyal and dependable worker who was willing to give up well deserved time off to keep the office open.

Answer 3

You cannot call in sick. I'm not against faking sick once or twice a year if needed, but at this point, your employer knows that you are moving and they will know that you are calling in for the move. This makes for a very uncomfortable return to work on Wednesday....and the following weeks at work....you don't want that.

Plan your move for the weekend and if you can't even negotiate partial workdays, move in on the weekend and get your bed set up and kitchen semi-liveable, a couple towels and washcloths out....and fit the rest of the unpacking into small spurts every day you get off work....

About 2-3 months from now....it will all be a memory....

Good luck.

Edit: Stacy P above makes a very valid point in her review time note....you really need to show up to work now and point it out to them later.

Answer 4

i agree -- shw up fr 2 hrs and go home "sick"
if yu don't yu'll wind up out for 2 weeks instead of 2 days from all the stress & effort.

Answer 5

Partial day off?
come in for two hours then leave out ill. at least it shows you tried to have effort.

otherwise as I say: joke them if they cant take a phuc.