The millennial influencer divided opinion by telling twenty-somethings to ‘call in sick’ to go to concerts, holidays and events they want to attend.
Abbie Curls, who splits her time between London and Bristol, shares tips for people younger than her in the run-up to her 30th birthday.
The 29-year-old admitted that faking illness to get a day off was something she did “all too well” in her twenties and that she has “no regrets”.
But people were quick to call the advice “selfish” and say it was
She said: ‘Your favorite artist is playing at a festival but you can’t go because you have a 12-9 shift on Saturday. Call in sick.
“Your friends are going for a long weekend, but you work Friday and Monday, so you can’t go.
“Call in sick and go and be well. What do you mean you can’t go?’
Abbie claimed that in “most jobs” you get a “set number” of sick days per year, adding that she used up “every last one of those days and a few more”.
The content creator said she didn’t face negative consequences for calling in sick when she worked in offices.
“You better believe I had a good old time doing something fun during those sick days,” she added.
“I know a lot of people won’t agree with this advice, but I honestly think I got more out of my life from what I woke up to when I was sick than I would have if I went to work that day. “
She qualified her video by saying that her advice ‘only applies to jobs you’re not really interested in’.
The Instagrammer used the example of a part-time job while studying for a degree, or a job you consider temporary just for the money.
Abbie then stated: ‘Don’t be sick into work that is important to you and in the career field you want to pursue.’
She gave several examples of why she pretended to be sick, including attending PR and networking events, group outings and social events with friends, and family birthday parties.
Abbie then apologized to “all the managers and parents out there” with her advice for younger millennials and Gen Z.
She ended the clip by saying, “Don’t tell your bosses I told you to call in sick because I don’t want any trouble!”
However, social media users had mixed opinions on her advice, with some calling it “horrible” and others saying their lives were more valuable than their jobs.
One wrote: ‘I couldn’t finish my final project because someone called in sick. The manager said I would leave early but it was so busy I had to stay until closing.
“I got a C in that class and I couldn’t apply for a 10,000 grant for 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 the opportunity to apply for financial aid for school. If you call in sick and it’s not a real emergency, at least tell your co-workers. Terrible advice. I’m just saying!’
Responding to this, Abbie said: “It’s definitely all about discretion. It sounds like you work in a small business where one person directly influences another.
“Under these circumstances, I wouldn’t have called in sick if I knew it would endanger someone else, as you described.
“The jobs I’ve been in have been huge corporations where my input is so minimal that I wouldn’t really miss it and there would always be someone else to step in.”
Another wrote: “Book your council holiday like an adult. Or call in sick, develop a reputation for being unreliable, and wonder why your hard-working colleague is your manager 18 months later.”
Abbie then wrote back: ‘I’m going on too many trips for the holidays to allow.’
A third commented: “I always remember it. If you died today, your job would be [advertised] next week. Always put yourself first.”
A fourth said: ‘I’m surprised people are against it! Your life is worth much more than that dirty retail job that would immediately replace you without a second thought! Call in sick!”