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Original poster

Is no sleep a reasonable excuse for calling in sick to work?

238 replies

Catermellor · 20/03/2026 05:36

Is ‘I haven’t slept at all’ a reasonable excuse for not going to work?

I really haven’t. I might have had two hours maybe 9-11 and then maybe dozed for half an hour between 4 and 430’but that’s it and that’s a generous guess. I feel all shaky and horrible and I just want to catch up on some sleep.

OP posts:
superchick · 20/03/2026 05:50

KimberleyClark · 20/03/2026 05:46

Bear in mind that if you call in sick today it will count as three days sick leave, not one.

No it won't

Lomonald · 20/03/2026 05:47

KimberleyClark · 20/03/2026 05:46

Bear in mind that if you call in sick today it will count as three days sick leave, not one.

Will it ?

Shallwemarry · 20/03/2026 05:47

KimberleyClark · 20/03/2026 05:46

Bear in mind that if you call in sick today it will count as three days sick leave, not one.

What?! 😵‍💫

Also editing to add I would personally only do this in my own job if I genuinely did feel like I was coming down with something, as I work customer facing and we are usually minimally staffed so any time taken off by me directly affects my colleagues and customers...

If I was just up all night with mind racing and hot flashes (thanks, menopause) it'd be lots of coffee and an early night tonight instead!

SkankingWombat · 20/03/2026 05:47

Is going in a bit later possible? I'm self-employed, so it's a bit different for me, but I have got DCs to school, come home for a decent nap and then headed to work a little later on the odd occasion it's happened to me. It's a horrible feeling being so sleep deprived but also a safety issue if you need to drive, or in my case, use equipment that could easily chop a body part off if I wasn't focused on what I was doing. A solid nap and a generous dose of caffeine is enough to limp me through and better than writing off a whole day.

KimberleyClark · 20/03/2026 05:46

Bear in mind that if you call in sick today it will count as three days sick leave, not one.

Shallwemarry · 20/03/2026 05:45

I think it's the bottom line outcome that counts here :

"sorry but I can't come in today, I feel shaky and horrible and haven't slept a wink, don't know if I'm coming down with something but I'm going back to bed to try to sleep it off and will hopefully feel a lot better by tomorrow"
Is what I would do!

Hope you Do feel better by tomorrow, op 🙏

Ninerainbows · 20/03/2026 05:44

I have done it once when DS has his 1 year jabs and DH was away. He screamed and screamed until about 4am and woke me up again at 5 - I wasn't safe to drive. I had a very understanding boss though.

Lomonald · 20/03/2026 05:44

Just phone in sick,say you have been up and down all night and you feel awful, which isn't lying.

I have had an awful night's sleep hence being here at 5.45 I am hoping for another hour but doubt it.

Yerroblemom1923 · 20/03/2026 05:43

It's just one day. Get through it and have an early night tonight. You've the weekend to catch up.

dizzydizzydizzy · 20/03/2026 05:43

I don’t think that would go down well. It depends on your job though.

BoxOfCats · 20/03/2026 05:41

Well, I think it depends on how much concentration is required for your job. Are you a brain surgeon? A waitress? Big difference…
Personally I’d just suck it up, but then I work in marketing and spend most of my life in meetings.

TooTiredToBeCreative · 20/03/2026 05:39

I think the reason you’ve had no sleep is probably more relevant… are you unwell or is it anxiety? Although having said that, I think that just saying you are not well enough to come in is enough.
i hope you manage to rest and feel better.

Avacadoandtoast · 20/03/2026 05:38

Is it because you are shaky / unwell that you haven’t slept?