I think you have to ask yourself is it worth loosing your job over. I would be inclined to just look around for another job with the situation as it is, and once you have one, then walk out on the job your in now. If you get fired it will not help you find another job anyway and you will leave with no references.

GO TO WORK!!!!

That show is not worth losing your job. Which if you did lose your job you could end up miserable for a long time. what's one miserable day at work compared to months of being miserable because you lost your job and cant find a new one.

I'm sure there will be another opportunity to see this show.

Just tell you managers that you are a team player and that when it's busy at the office you are all for everyone pitching in to help. Tell them that you have very expensive and hard to get tickets to a show on Sat. night which you cannot miss, but that you will be able to come in and work early on Sat. morning and part of the early afternoon. Tell them that you can come in on Sunday afternoon and early evening. If need be, you can work overtime on Monday, also.

Use your gut instinct...its usually right ! good luck and hope the show is a good one !

I think it's time you made plans to leave this job ASAP!

Taking a day off sick to go to the show isn't going to change a thing, and if you're honest with yourself here there's a fair chance you're looking for a reason to escape the job- but far wiser to make a planned move into a better job than to put them in the position of being able to sack you.Buying tickets for a show before arranging the time off- hmm......

Remember if you get the sack for absences, this will put you at a disadvantage with a future employer- they will want to know why you left the job, and you will need a good reference.

Reality check- you're on your way out of the door one way or another, so promise yourself you're going to find a better job right now- and get very active in doing something about it. You don't have to put up with bullying and intimidation, and your next employer will expect a professional approach to absences.

I think your choices are- go to the show and give them a reason to sack you, at least you won't have to put up with the bullying; sell your tickets, go to work, book in advance the day off you're owed and go to another show- whichever you do, decide now that you're getting another job, sort out your CV and use all your intelligence to locate that new job.

You'll look back in the future, from your new career, and be thankful you finally made the decision to move on.

If anxiety and low self esteem are an issue for you, get help with this- most people experience this at some point in their lives. If these are issues for you, don't stick your head in the sand, go to your doctor, ask for counselling, find other ways to make yourself feel more relaxed and confident ( going to a show!) such as exercise, dance, music, learning a creative skill etc, whatever helps.

Why would you risk getting fired when you say that the thought of being on benefits is depressing? If you get fired for claiming to be off sick when you aren't, then you'll be luck to ever get another job! Your employers aren't stupid, they know that you asked for the time off and were refused, so they'll be waiting for you to ring in sick - they'll know it's an excuse and they will use it against you.