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

If you are unwell and shaky you are sick.

I've done that before, but I just said something a bit more vague about feeling dizzy. This was true, but caused byt he lack of sleep!

It does seem like it's enough nowadays, doesn't it?
😐

People telling her to suck it up don't know if she's driving to work. Driving on no sleep is as bad as drink driving as far as reaction times are concerned. Not everyone has ample taxis available at short notice in their area. What if she falls asleep at the wheel and kills someone?

If I really felt I wasn't safe to work, I'd call in sick, but I'd say I was unwell rather than admit lack of sleep as the reason. And I'm not a person who generally has much time off sick - only one instance in the last 10 years.

I've had to go in and teach all day/do important meetings on no sleep. Once I'm in and doing the job, I generally feel okay - just a bit cold and jittery. Hot coffee and sugary snacks has always got me through though.

Who's looking after your little one if you go to work? Assuming if she's been ill enough to be up all night then she wouldn't be going to her normal childcare? I'd say a more acceptable reason for being off is having to look after your poorly child.

As a manager, I have had people call in sick for this and I just accepted it. But take a slightly dim view privately. It’s a bit wimpy and I think you have to just crack on.
I think people usually underestimate how much they’ve slept. I sometimes think I’ve had a shocking night and my sleep tracker says I’ve had 5 or 6 hours total, with all my usual amount of deep sleep. It’s not that bad.

The days I used to go into work at 8am only having got home at 4am 😅

Absolutely no way I could do that now. Thank god for home working also on the days I don't get much sleep.

It's a pity that whole nation of women with the same experience isn't a bit more understanding and compassionate and determined to improve the quality of life of mothers and children, instead of demanding that everyone else suffers the same way.

I remember that nauseated feeling of being jolted awake repeatedly when you're exhausted. Sleep deprivation is torture for a reason, and if you had a bad night then night before too then I understand. I wouldn't judge you either way, I would just say in that kind of exhaustion you might not make the best decision. If you CAN power through in any way then do but it also depends on your job. If you're giving medical advice or anything law based or anything physically dangerous then I would phone in sick.

You are coming off as a bit of a wimp. Swap your day or go in. A whole nation of women has raised badly sleeping kids without ducking out of work.

Me too, but I only work 2 nights and I have called in sick from lack of sleep.
I do suffer from insomnia though and can usually still function on 2-4 hrs sleep. On this occasion though I had zero sleep between nightshifts and was coming off the back of a weeks long run of insomnia....I was scared I would actually kill someone if I came into work!
Honestly though if its just one night and you have a low risk job then Id just go in and fill up on coffee!
Although I suppose not everybody reacts the same way to lack of sleep....

I would say power through. I have a 2 year old who sleeps horrifically. I always feel better and breakfast, coffee and shower.

If you do call in sick, i would make up a more serious reason. A lot of people don’t sleep well so i think you’re at risk of being judged if you call in sick because you haven’t slept. Especially as you only work 2 days.

hopefully OP has gone to work.

I get that kids are hard and lack of sleep is brutal but the amount of people on MN who have zero resilience to life is outstanding. You work 2 days a week. You last worked Monday and after today, have the weekend off.

I know it's not a race to the bottom but when my son was little I worked full time, as a single parent and did all the sleepless nights and worked 5 days a week 8-5pm. It is just life.

I cannot imagine calling in sick because I am tired 🙄I would never be at work!

How are you going to catch up on sleep when you have a poorly 2 year old at home @Catermellor?

Or are you saying the child who has kept you up all night (so presumably also has had little quality sleep) is well enough to go to a childcare provision? But you're not ok to work?

Will you get paid if you don't go in? I wouldn't want to pay someone to have a duvet day, specially on a Friday when the weekend is just round the corner. I would also not want to pass your work to a colleague so that you can have a lie in.

Eh?! What?!

I have gone in for a 12 hour shift with half of what you got, 1 hour, but i also would have had no problem calling in sick if I had felt rough with it

Most jobs might tolerate that once. At a push, twice. After that, you'd be on a disciplinary.

I have gone in to work plenty of times after a very bad night sleep. You are better off getting up forgetting about the poor night sleep and getting on with your day, you will get through it. Wallowing in it and staying home may contribute to another bad night sleep tonight

I take the day off when I haven't slept well. Not as sick I just say I didn't sleep and will be useless so I'm taking the day

I'm a chronic insomniac and often have only a few hours sleep - and feel terrible after particularly bad nights. I make sure I have a sleep at lunchtime - I have a nap in the car if I'm in the office. That's enough to see me through the day.

I think it largely depends on what job you have. If you’re a surgeon or a driver then probably dangerous but if you work in an office or a shop or whatever then I think you should probably go in.
Is your child well enough for nursery or whatever today?
Do you not have a partner at home at night who can do their fair share?

I've suffered from insomnia my whole life. A lot brought on by the stress of being a teacher, but still...

Never had a day off work because of it. You just have to crack on and get on with it.

I'm a chronic insomniac so I always work on no sleep or I'd never be at work. I got about 3 hours last night, for example, so I'm logging in right now. If the lack of sleep is going to cause serious problems for you or your work then call in sick.

Otherwise, personally I'd work through it, but in your case maybe tell people you aren't feeling 100% . The alternative is calling in sick and catching up with sleep during the day which can throw your whole sleep-cycle off.

'It’s only one day and you’ll have to go to bed at the same time as your kid when you get home to catch up. Loads of us have been there'

This is very true, I remember the awful days of going to bed at 8pm as I knew I'd at least get a good 4hrs until midnight when the chaos usually began .