Is the hooky worth it?

[The LadyKiller]

I have worked at a large company for over two years. Outside of two weeks vacation per year that we receive, I have never missed a day of work. Meanwhile, my friend is throwing a big party this weekend that I'd want to attend. Unfortunately, I am scheduled to work late that night and wouldn't be able to go - under normal circumstances.

You can guess the question - should I call in "sick" that day? The reason I am posting here is because it's not as cookie-cutter as it seems. First, this party will feature a lot of co-workers (people at my level). No superiors or bosses will be there. Secondly, I have a week off beginning the next day. In theory, I'd be adding a day to my "vacation." Might look a little fishy. Ethical factor: Another peer (already at work) would be rotated to fill in for me; it would alter people's assignments that day. I'd be a little paranoid of a boss "finding out" even though they wouldn't sniff around.

At the same time, I have some factors in my favor. First, as stated earlier, I have never missed a day of work. We have an allotted number of sick days per year that do not roll over. Secondly, no one publicly broadcasts that a sick day has been used - nor do the schedulers ask follow-up questions (only if it's being abused). At a large company, they simply alter people's assignments that day. Finally, I'm not scheduled to work on my usual assignment, so it wouldn't involve my usual/direct supervisors. Ethical factor: I've been rotated at least a few times due to others calling out "sick." I don't feel one day being "sick" presents much of a job risk.

What's your feeling on using the "sick" day - good or bad move? I wrote more than I needed to, probably because it's a moral conflict. I never missed a day of work. I never missed a class in college. I only missed one day of high school when I had a medical procedure done. Therefore, it's a weird feeling.

 

[Machina29]

Given the fact that other coworkers will be there, and you are starting vacation the next day, I wouldn't skip if you value your job. The coworkers could rat you out if you ever piss them off.

Then again, you only live once. When you are 90, you won't wish that you had worked another day, but you might wish you had partied more.

 

[Mike32ct]

Given the fact that other coworkers will be there, and you are starting vacation the next day, I wouldn't skip if you value your job. The coworkers could rat you out if you ever piss them off..

This.

 

[Bible_Belt]

A lot of companies have gotten around this situation by calling sick days what they really are, "personal days." You get a certain amount of time off whether you are sick or not, so there is no incentive to pretend to be sick.

I would just tell the boss straight-up "look, I want Friday off, but I'm not going to lie to you and call in sick." If your boss is worth a sh!t, he or she will value not being lied to. Even if they put it down officially as sick time, they should appreciate the extra notice to make accommodations. Plus, if you ever do legitimately call in sick, they'll believe you.

 

[Huffman]

Agree with Bible Belt. In my experience, it pays to be a little demanding sometimes.

Now, if you REALLY depend on the job and your situation is bad, then you have no choice but to stand down and swallow the situation.

But otherwise, ask for that day. Many bosses I know always try to make the best arrangements for all parties - this ensures loyalty in your underlings for a long time.

Now imagine you called in sick - what would the boss do? COULD he replace you if you were actually sick? If NO, then your company is f*cked, and you are too. If yes, then ask for that replacement, and make it up to him.

 

[The LadyKiller]

I appreciate the advice so far, thanks. I am likely one of the younger posters here, so the wisdom here is a plus. Follow-ups are in bold:

Given the fact that other coworkers will be there, and you are starting vacation the next day, I wouldn't skip if you value your job. The coworkers could rat you out if you ever piss them off.

True. I don't want co-workers gaining any ammo against me, as I currently have a squeaky clean record. Never using a sick/personal day is quite an achievement. However, it's tough to envision them telling our bosses, "LadyKiller wasn't really preoccupied on his sick/personal day [weeks/months] ago" and the bosses then conducting an investigation as a result. Others have called in "sick" before.

Then again, you only live once. When you are 90, you won't wish that you had worked another day, but you might wish you had partied more.

That's the other side of the coin. I don't have a whole lot of excitement in my life at the moment. That's why this is tempting. It seems this isn't some small party either.

A lot of companies have gotten around this situation by calling sick days what they really are, "personal days." You get a certain amount of time off whether you are sick or not, so there is no incentive to pretend to be sick.

I believe we still have "sick days." At the same time, a friend told me that the company has done away with paying employees for not using their sick days. According to him, the new change encourages employees to play hooky for the sick days they are allotted.

I would just tell the boss straight-up "look, I want Friday off, but I'm not going to lie to you and call in sick." If your boss is worth a sh!t, he or she will value not being lied to. Even if they put it down officially as sick time, they should appreciate the extra notice to make accommodations. Plus, if you ever do legitimately call in sick, they'll believe you.

This is the scary part. Our company is BIG and CORPORATE. Apparently, I wouldn't even be telling the boss. From what I have been told by friends, we have a hotline to call, we tell them we're "sick" and that's the end of the interaction.

Now, if you REALLY depend on the job and your situation is bad, then you have no choice but to stand down and swallow the situation.

But otherwise, ask for that day. Many bosses I know always try to make the best arrangements for all parties - this ensures loyalty in your underlings for a long time.

As mentioned before, the company's size/corporate nature is to the extent that we have a hotline to call and those people take care of it. To paint a picture, we have a few hundred employees in the same department.

Now imagine you called in sick - what would the boss do? COULD he replace you if you were actually sick? If NO, then your company is f*cked, and you are too. If yes, then ask for that replacement, and make it up to him.
Yes, they would rotate people around who are also working that day. I've been on the receiving end of this several times.

Again, I might be overanalyzing this just a tad, but it's a new situation for me.

 

[The LadyKiller]

Sorry to bump this, just wanted to see if anyone had any last thoughts - decision time is imminent.

I'm leaning towards going to work. The positives would be that I keep my personal iron man streak alive (not sure my bosses necessarily care long term), I wouldn't be potentially screwing over anyone and I'd have done the "right thing."

On the other hand, I haven't had a thrill in awhile. The party is expected to be rather good.

 

[JulieWatson31]

Honesty is never the wrong action to take.

I would ask for the day off or talk to your boss and be straight.

 

[The LadyKiller]

I would ask for the day off or talk to your boss and be straight.

As I wrote twice earlier, this isn't possible. Company is too big to be asking the boss about attending a house party. (several thousand employees) It's hotline or bust if I were to do it.