Ditch the sickie and book a leave day to get into sport this summer

IT’S a big summer of sport, and the temptations to ditch work are plentiful. But, career experts warn, lying to your boss is never a good idea.

SPORT - Hopman Cup Day 4, Session 2 Mens, Australia Green v Great Britain. Photo by Daniel Wilkins. PICTURED- Australia's Nick Kyrgios returns a shot from Great Britain's Andy Murray

FORGET chucking a sickie to head to the cricket or tennis — workers must book annual leave if they want to enjoy their favourite sport in 2016.

Employment experts say workers may not be initially sacked for lying about their whereabouts or misusing leave policy.

But they warn of the ramifications of breaking their boss’ trust — and employers have every right to take disciplinary action that can add up to a dismissal in future.

It may be okay, however, to rock up to work midmorning after a late night watching a big sporting event such as Wimbledon on TV, as some ‘give and take’ principles may apply.

Whether it is a day at the Australian Open tennis next week, the pub for the Superbowl on February 8, an early knock-off time to go to the One Day International and T20 cricket matches, workers need to get their 2016 sporting calendar leave approved by the boss — and well in advance is best.

Work around it .. Exelsuper workers Phillip Mills and Sarah Hall don’t chuck sickies as they have flexibility to take time off for sport. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

HR service provider Randstad’s Steve Shepherd says finding time for sport is a common dilemma workers and employers face.

The employment market analyst says workers are often too scared to ask the boss for the day off despite being entitled to it.

“People don’t think about it much, as much as we are a sport-loving nation,” he said.

“At the end of the day, managers aren’t stupid, they know what we are doing.

“Book that in advance and it will not then reflect badly on the employee.

“It’s also respectful of your team needs as well, it gives the business time to plan and give resources (to compensate).”

PLAN YOUR YEAR: Download the 2016 Fox Sports sporting calendar

Wallsmans Lawyers partner Michael Kay says public sector employees, in particular, can be accused of serious misconduct for chucking a sickie on taxpayer dollars.

Having a leave request rejected or taking a ‘mental health day’ is also no defence, Kay says.

“If you need a ‘mental health day’, get a sick certificate and rest and recuperate, rather than being out and about,” he said.

“If there’s a genuine need of some time to recuperate, that does dovetail to employer’s work health and safety obligation to ensure workers aren’t being put under undue stress.”

Attending events in a work capacity, such as representing the company in a corporate box, is fine to be considered work time if it relates to the job.

Professional codes of conduct still apply and workers should be aware of the implications of drunken behaviour.

Be honest ... only go to the cricket on a weekday if the boss knows you’re there.

Mr Shepherd says employers should be understanding if workers accidentally sleep in after staying up late to watch Wimbledon — but it may pay to give the boss advance notice and then plan to come in late.

“Ask if there is a chance to come in late and work back later to cover for these sort of things,” he said.

“Rather than come in and lie, say you were watching Wimbledon, it won’t happen again.

“Honesty is the best policy.”

Mr Kay says if an employee did not intend to be late, it cannot be branded misconduct.

Exelsuper workers Phillip Mills and Sarah Hall say their boss is flexible so have no need to chuck a sickie.

Mr Mills, a self-managed super fund specialist, often leaves work early to go cycling and will take time off to attend the Tour Down Under this month.

“It came up during my job interview — there was an understanding that I cycled,” he said.

“I work harder to cover — it’s an incentive to get stuff done, knock off early, to go for a ride.”

Ms Hall, a client service officer, says workers often leave early to attend evening football games.

“It makes you a lot happier when you have a bit more flexibility,” she said.

Chief executive Chris Harris says his trust in staff to get the job done means he has never had a worker chuck a sickie.

“We don’t watch the clock, as long as the job that needs to be done is done,” he said.

“If they need to disappear for any reason, we are not clock watchers, we don’t care.

“If you drop the ball and lose the plot on the job, you’re in strife.”