Fabulous once in a lifetime opportunity - what would you do?

[bexj]

I've just been contacted by Spillers - I have won a course walk with Jeanette Brakewell at Burghley Horse Trials!

Naturally, I am over the moon!

But, and there is always a but isn't there - I am manager of a team of 4 people, we are already one member of staff down, and another is on holiday on that day, leaving us severely short staffed. In addition, my colleague (who manages the other team in the department) is on holiday then too, and the rules are that we can't both be off at once.

I'm rarely off sick, so I can't help thinking that to pull a sickie would be very suspect

So, what do I do?

[LindaAd]

I've just been contacted by Spillers - I have won a course walk with Jeanette Brakewell at Burghley Horse Trials!

Naturally, I am over the moon!

But, and there is always a but isn't there - I am manager of a team of 4 people, we are already one member of staff down, and another is on holiday on that day, leaving us severely short staffed. In addition, my colleague (who manages the other team in the department) is on holiday then too, and the rules are that we can't both be off at once.

I'm rarely off sick, so I can't help thinking that to pull a sickie would be very suspect

So, what do I do?




Oh dear - it's sod's law, isn't it! I think in your place I'd tell the others and ask them what to do. Is it the sort of job where you can do things in advance to make a day easier?


I suppose it depends a bit on how strict they are about applying the rules, too ...

I hope you manage to work something out.

[NicP]

I know - you can give the prize to me!! :D:D:D

Seriously, if you explain to your boss and colleagues how much of a one-off this is, would they cover for just one day? It isn't like you will be off all week.

I hope it works out for you - what a great prize. :)

[bexj]

I guess in real people's lives, it's like getting a back stage tour of Wembley during the World Cup by David Beckham, or getting a stage seat for a Robbie Williams gig......

I'm struggling to call in sick - so many reasons why not. So I guess, I'll just have to give it a go, ask the boss, and hope for the best....:confused:

[NicP]

Fingers crossed for you. I think it is the right decison not to take a sickie, they have a way of catching you out.

[Ruskii]

For a once in a lifetime opportunity like that, I would be chucking a sickie :D

[popdog]

You are so honest. I think I'm a really bad person, I'd just pull a sickie and damn the consequences. Nothing would stop me going ;)

[coverblown]

This is a really hard one. You need to weigh up all the ramifications for you:

how likely are you to get the day off if you ask, explaining how important it is - if that is quite likely, then do that

otherwise consider the sickie

what is obvious though is - you really need to get to Burghley with Jeannette. A fantastic opportunity and not to be missed.

I hate advising people to take a sickie - I (like most of us) am committed to my job too and would hate to have to do it, but in this case, I think I would ....

[katieB]

Ooh this is a toughie, I hate lying (and I would be totally paranoid that id be caught out and therefore sacked!) that id probably have to be honest and just beg and plead with my boss. Good luck!

[Wobblydeb]

You are a manager, woman. No begging or pleading! ;)

Have a think about what your remaining colleagues will have to handle, and what you can do about it. Can you work late the day or two beforehand to clear some stuff? Can you arrange for someone from another department to cover? Go to your line manager with the request, and ways of accommodating it. :)

[Siogfinsceal]

Hi, had a similar problem recently i too manager a few people and can have myself and my assistant off at the same time. s it happened this year she was on hols and I needed to go to a wdding abroad. I explained to my boss and he was nice about it and agreed it was ok. If its only for one day I am sure they coul dmanage especially of you were willing to be contactable by phone if an emergency arose. Its a once in a lifetime chance hope you get to go!
As for calling in sick thr trouble with being the boss is that if you do it, the rest of them will to . the ol 'monkey see monkey do' philosophy!

[Abserd]

How's it going bexj? any solutions yet? really hope you can sort it out as it's such an amazing opportunity and it would be such a shame to miss it for the sake of one day off.

[Trewsers]

Yeah, any news? Seems a shame to miss your competition prize.....

[KarinUS]

I am glad you decided to be honest with your boss. I am sure it will work out. It's just one day!

[bexj]

Well I haven't decided yet what to do. I am definitely going - no doubt about it, but I am going to leave it a bit nearer the time to decide how! Thank you all though for your words of wisdom!

[vonandiz]

Cor blimey - why do extra special exciting things always crop up at the most inoppurtune moments?

Haven't much to add other than if you aren't usually sick, they are more likely to believe you (although you may have a problem not talking about it or smiling like a loon!). Also if you ask and they refuse what then? You'd struggle to pull a sickie off after asking.

Hmmm, very difficult decision. Hope it goes well whatever you decide.

[KarinUS]

Yes, but if you don't ask, pull a sickie and then get your picture published in a magazine then it's going to be very awkward.
Surely if you won some celebrity thing your name (or even face) is bound to show up somewhere.

[bexj]

God I'd never thought of that Karin......

[KarinUS]

Spiller is a feed company, right? I am sure they don't just give stuff away because they are nice. They do it because it's good PR. I really think they would want to publish this at some point. Just keep in mind that it's likely to show up somewhere. If the rest of your co-workers and boss is not horsey they may never see it. It's the chancwe you take though.

Good Luck in whatever you decide. (Oh and of course you will have to publish your experience here! :D)

[bexj]

No you are right.........absolutely! No one is horsey at all at work, so may be safe, but you never know......

I think I will come clean.......boss is very reasonable, but is going thru some mess at the moment with having her dog pts this next saturday and some other stuff......think it will be better to wait a couple of weeks!

[Skib]

I am a bit puritan. I think honesty is important. My daughters and our friends dont pull sickies.
And if you were planning to be less than honest, it hardly helps to publish your dilemma on a public internet board. In your place I would ask as soon as possible. You're being able to go will depend on other people changing their plans.
Also if you get a negative answer (in spite of your diplomacy etc) you can repeatedly ask whether they might reconsider the decision.
Or suggest a solution - which you cant do if you leave it till the last minute.

I think its great that you won this prize, but I find this thread depressing. You've had moral support, but none of us can remove your problem. Just remember how much you want to go and remember that in real life (as with horses) we often have to problem solve to get what we want.

This is no different from walking a course, considering how to tackle a jump and then riding it.

[bexj]

Skib

I'm sorry you find this thread depressing, but you didn't have to read it, or reply. I don't expect anyone on a message forum to be able to remove this problem, any more than I would expect any other horse related problem to be removed just by posting on a forum.

I take my job very seriously, and the fact that consistently I have given hundreds of unpaid hours at short notice to it is testament to that. I can't remember the last time I rang in sick, let alone pulled a sickie, hence my dilemma here. I also don't have to justify myself to you.

It was a) posted as a bit of a light-hearted "lets see what others would do" thread and b) to may be explore some other options and opinions which don't always spring to mind.

I will leave this alone now, before I type something that I regret.

Once again, thank you to the people that have joined in with the light heartedness of the thread, and offered some real opinions.

[NZdressage]

You are so honest. I think I'm a really bad person, I'd just pull a sickie and damn the consequences. Nothing would stop me going ;)

Same!! I wouldnt think twice about throwing a sickie. Besides if you dont take them often thats even more reason for you to take one. :O

[popdog]

I am a vice president in a tier 1 investment bank, and I would pull a sickie. If any of my staff did the same then I'd turn a blind eye...it's give and take. As long as you aren't a regular offender...otherwise I'd be jumping on you from a great height :D

My team look after each other...we all know the score :cool:

I have one member of staff who is 'horsey' and we have an understanding about 'working from home' which really means vets and farriers visits but if I wasn't horsey I'm not sure I would understand.

I also turn a blind eye to childrens xmas plays and the first day of school...I don't think any worse of my team for taking the odd day off...when 'it' hits the fan they work for me 24x7 and I can call them any time of day or night.

If you can't guarantee an understanding manager then take a sickie...you deserve it. Maybe I'm just a soft touch and a sickie is just a paid holiday in return for all the overtime my team puts in :o

Whatever you do should be fine...just make sure you get the day off...even if the mobile is switched on ;)

[Skib]

If you ask a question on a public message board you should accept all replies. Some like mine wont say what you want to hear. Same with questions about riding on NR. I learn from an RI who doesnt always give the conventional answers.
But there is no need to be rude to me because I gave an honest reaction.

[neen]

If you ask a question on a public message board you should accept all replies. Some like mine wont say what you want to hear.

....


But there is no need to be rude to me because I gave an honest reaction.

Works both ways!

[bexj]

Skib

I would appreciate you not treating me like a young child. It was the patronising tone of both of your messages that have upset me, and not the content - I am well into adulthood, and am perfectly capable of making my own decisions based on the information that I receive and disseminate, without chucking my toys out of the pram when I hear an opionion I disagree with.

And for the record, I don't actually disagree with yours.

[Afellpony]

Bexj, if it were me, I'd definitely take that day off. By the looks of it, you give them plenty at work. Now it's your time for a little relaxation - take it. I certainly would, especially if I had that opportunity. You certainly appear to do your bit at work. Just remember, no mater how hard you work, or how good your work is, when the time comes, if they wanna get rid of you they will So yes go and enjoy.

[Mary Poppins]

It depends on how much you care about your job or the people you work with. If you are a manager and lead a team you have a greater responsibility to act in the 'proper' way.

Don't pull a sickie - you will get found out and it will ruin your day if you feel guilty about it. Try and think of a solution - could you work earlier in the day or later on? Could you get someone to cover for you? Be honest with your boss and see if a solution can be found. If not, can you contact the people you won the prize from and see if it can be arranged for another day?

[Rhein]

Well, you have been given a variety of opinions on here :)

Personally, I would never take a day off sick (unless I was totally incapacitated), and I wouldn't tolerate any of my staff members doing so either.
If it were me I would talk to your boss and see if something can be worked out. She is obviously an animal lover so may well understand how much you want to go and do this and be able to help you work something out.
But if at the end of the day you can't go, well it's not the end of the world. After all, it was an unexpected freebee, you haven't paid out loads of money and now can't go. So you haven't really lost anything by not going.

If I'm totally honest, I really wouldn't clasify this as a "once in a lifetime opportunity" anyway (winning a world cruise or a chance to ride in the grand national maybe ;)). There are loads of these course walks around. I "won" a course walk courtesy of Baileys with Karen Dixon at Badminton 4 years ago (it was an open competition, but you paid £5). I then did a course walk with her the following year at Burghley. Last year I paid to do a course walk at Badminton with Lucinda Green (William Fox Pitt was also doing one, but Lucinda was an idol of mine when I was a teenager!). It cost £20 - the proceeds from which went to her riding safety charity. (Sadly I never made it as my horse was taken poorly the day before and I elected to stay home and keep an eye on her :rolleyes:.)

So there are loads of opportunities out there to do this sort of thing again, but you might have to pay £5 or £20.

As for publicity and photos as someone suggested, I think it's highly unlikely. There are usually 2 or 3 course walks done by each celebrity at these events, with a crowd of up to 20 or more people with them. Some of whom will have won their place and some of whom will have paid for it. I've never seen pulicity photos taken. Usually the sponsoring company will give you a nice goody back full of freebies so that you can advertise them for free!!

Hope you do get to go - it's great fun, and a very educational experience to be able to hear the opinions of the expers and how they would ride the course.

[loopyh]

I think I would be tempted by the sickie especially if I knew I had made allowances in the past and worked extra hours etc but on the other hand knowing the most people do change their own arrangements in order to work extra for their employer I don't think it an unreasonable request to go to your boss with. I probably shouldn't comment as I'm a student and haven't had a full time demanding/responsible job for about 4 years but I do find it annoying that companies do seem to expect employees to live around their demands. Work to live NOT live to work.

[bexj]

I didn't realise they were that common Rhein! Oh well, still sounds like a fabulous experience for me personally.

I will be talking to my boss, but she has just gone on 2 weeks holiday so it will have to be after she gets back. And I think my team member might not be taking his holiday on that day now either, so should be no problem - hopefully

Thanks for all your advice and input!

[chickflick1066]

I'm a reckless teen, and I KNOW you know what'd I'd say. Not that helps the situation anymore eh;)

The best you are :D

[Rhein]

I didn't realise they were that common Rhein! Oh well, still sounds like a fabulous experience for me personally.


I wasn't trying to belittle your prize :o, just trying to say that if it turns out you can't go this time, don't despair - you will be able to go again, one way or another!
It will be a fabulous experience and you'll really enjoy it.

Anyway, sounds like you may well be able to go now - so don't forget the full report and pictures :)