A millennial influencer has divided opinion by telling people in their twenties to “call in sick” to go to concerts, vacations and events they want to attend.
Abbie Curls, who splits her time between London and Bristol, shares tips for younger people as they look to turn 30.
The 29-year-old admitted that pretending to be sick to get a day off work is something she did “really well” in her twenties and that she doesn’t regret “anything.”
But people were quick to slam the advice as “selfish” and said she is…
She said, ‘Your favorite artist is playing a festival, but you can’t go because you have to work from 12 to 9 on Saturday. Call in sick.’
‘Your friends are going on vacation this long weekend, but you work on Friday and Monday, so you can’t go.
Abbie admitted that pretending to be sick to get a day off work is something she did “really well” in her twenties and that she doesn’t regret “anything.”
“Call in sick and go have a good time. What do you mean you can’t go?”
Abbie said that in “most jobs” they give you a “fixed amount” of sick days per year, adding that she used “every last one of those days and a couple extra ones.”
The content creator said she faced no negative consequences for calling in sick when working in offices.
“You can believe that during those days of illness I was having a great time doing something fun,” he added.
‘I know a lot of people won’t agree with this advice, but I honestly believe I gained more in life from what I did during my sick days than I would have gained if I had simply gone to work that day.’
She warned in her video that her advice “only applies to jobs you don’t really care about.”
The Instagrammer used as an example a part-time job while studying for a degree or a job that you consider temporary just for the money.
Abbie then said, “Don’t call in sick to a job that is important to you and the career field you want to pursue.”
She gave some examples of why she used to pretend to be sick, which included attending public relations and networking events, group trips and social events with friends, and family birthday celebrations.
Abbie said that “most jobs” give you a “set amount” of sick days per year, adding that she used “every last one of those days and a couple of extra days.”
Abbie gave some examples of why she used to pretend to be sick in the title of her clip.
Abbie then apologized to “all managers and parents” for her advice to young millennials and Gen Z.
She ended the clip by saying, ‘Don’t tell your bosses that I told you to call in sick because I don’t want any problems!’
But social media users were divided on his advice, with some calling it “terrible” and others saying his life is worth more than his job.
One wrote: ‘I couldn’t finish a final project because someone called in sick. The manager said I would leave early, but he was so busy I had to stay until closing.
‘I got a C in that class and couldn’t apply for a 10k scholarship to the school. The next day, the person showed up tanned and hungover from going to a festival in the south (California).
“She lost her job and I lost my chance to apply for financial aid for school. If you’re calling in sick and it’s not a real emergency, at least let your coworkers know. Terrible advice! Just saying!”
Abbie responded to this and said, “It’s definitely all about discretion. It sounds like you worked in a small company where one person directly affects another.
‘In those circumstances, I would not call in sick if I knew it would endanger another person in the way you described.
Social media users were divided on his advice, with some calling it “terrible” and others saying his life is worth more than his job.
“The jobs I’ve been in have been massive corporations where my input is so minimal that I really wouldn’t have been missed and there would always be someone else to step in.”
Another wrote: ‘Book your holiday with advice like an adult. Or call in sick, build yourself a reputation for being unreliable and wonder why 18 months later your hard-working colleague is now your manager.’
Abbie then replied: “I travel too much than my vacation allows.”
A third commented: ‘I always remember this. If he died today, his job would be (announced) next week. Prioritise yourself, always.’
A fourth said: “I’m surprised people are against this! Your life is worth so much more than the crappy job at a retail store that would replace you in a heartbeat without a second thought! Call in sick!”