New starter, I’m looking to leave already...

hyubh

elsien wrote: »

They pulled a sickie - which on the face of it is what you were advocating. You didn't mention taking it as leave in your initial post.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5955258/what-to-do

He suggested the OP says they have a doctor's appointment. That's not throwing a sickie - a doctor's appointment is something you pre-arrange and so is something used to explain future non-attendance. In contrast, a sickie is something that explains, without warning, why you aren't at work today.

If I take a random half a day off, I'd expect to be asked what it is for, not because I expect to be challenged, but because asking why is the normal thing for a line manager (or even just co-worker) to do.

Iheart

If you are working in a school surely you wont have annual leave?

Ja7188

Pretty much yes. I sometimes just about figure it out (lots of random half days booked off for doctors appointments), but if someone just books a single morning off and says its for the doctors how am I to know?

You probably wouldn't find - but what would you do if you did? I doubt that the individual concerned would be in their role for long.

I respectfully disagree. Employers do not have trackers on their employees, if someone says they are going to the doctors you normally just accept it, not launch some kind of investigation.

If someone actually told me they were interviewing, I'd basically take it as a resignation.

We're each responsible for our own careers - would you really assume that if someone went for an interview elsewhere that they were actively looking to leave, as opposed to being open to new opportunities?

I really think just booking a half day off and saying its for the doctors is the best idea (assuming you have to give a reason, which you normally would to book time off during term time in a school or in the first two weeks of a job).

I still don't agree - and why would the OP have to give a reason?

And I wonder if your manager ever asked you what you were doing with this time? And if when you got into the office they ever asked you what you'd done that morning or on your lunch break? If they had of done, would you have been honest?

No - it's not their business - people book odd days/ half-days for lots of reasons and if I'd been asked, I'd have just said that I had things to do and whilst this may look suspicious, I'd have done nothing wrong by declining to provide further detail. Booking and taking a half-day's leave is not a disciplinary offence - lying to your employer generally is.