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AIBU?

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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:
Ownyourchoices · 20/03/2026 06:57

Why were you the one up. DO you have a partner? If you only work two days, then they should be the one who was up wondering whether to call in sick.

Lougle · 20/03/2026 06:55

Canonlythinkofthisone · 20/03/2026 06:41

Depends entirely on working pattern. Weekends for monday to Friday workers arent sick days if they call in sick on a Friday. HTH

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I think in terms of contributing to SSP or fit note requirements @KimberleyClark is right. If someone is off on the Friday and the Monday, they have been off sick for 4 calender days, even if it's only 2 work days. Similarly, if someone only works Tuesday and Thursday, they would trigger the requirement for a fit note on the following Wednesday, unless they phoned their work to say that they were fit for work on a non-working day.

PersephonePomegranate · 20/03/2026 06:55

Are you feeling well enough to do your job today? If not, then the reason for it doesn't really matter.

Sick record also needs to be taken into consideration. If it's good, then no problem.

Original poster
Catermellor · 20/03/2026 06:54

Whaleandsnail6 · 20/03/2026 06:52

You're not working at your job tomorrow though, are you?

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No, it’s my harder, unpaid, thankless job I am turning up to 😂

OP posts:
millymollymoomoo · 20/03/2026 06:54

Totally unreasonable
just get up, shower and get ready

theresbeautyinwindysun · 20/03/2026 06:53

To be honest I have forced myself in with zero sleep a number of times. I get chronic overnight pain with a health condition and go in and I’m a teacher!

Watwing · 20/03/2026 06:53

Depends on your job. Normal office job where one day of sub-par performance when you're usually half decent and will catch up isn't going to matter so suck it up and go in. Surgeon/18-wheel driver then you'd be a danger to yourself and everyone around you.

I've done it before, rocked up with a bag of haribo with fair warning to everyone I'd had no sleep, was grumpy and was relying on pure sugar to get through. But I'm good at my job most of the time and noone dies or loses money if I mess up.

Original poster
Catermellor · 20/03/2026 06:53

TaraPup · 20/03/2026 06:49

Why is this relevant though? I'd imagine her child is either staying with her or going to their usual Friday childcare. Baffled why this matters to you.

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It’s a troll, just ignore. They keep asking the same (tedious) question over and over and over and then making sardonic remarks about the answer until an OP gets upset. They get banned but return over and over.

My child has a cold, which for some reason always means no sleep (I guess because they can’t breathe easily when lying down) although sleep is an issue anyway tbh. I did think nearly three years later things would have improved 😩

Work is not very flexible to say the least so if I DO get a phone call asking me to pick up it’s often better to err on the side of caution anyway. Unfortunately it is a well established game at our place.

OP posts:
Lurkingandlearning · 20/03/2026 06:53

I would be less productive and more likely to make mistakes if I was really, really tired than I would be if I was ill or in pain. At least with illness or injury you can take something to ease it. So, yes I would call in sick but I would probably be vague about what was wrong

Whaleandsnail6 · 20/03/2026 06:52

Catermellor · 20/03/2026 06:45

If I didn’t have young children I’d agree I’m not working tomorrow. As it is, I am.

You're not working at your job tomorrow though, are you?

Callmebubblesdarlingeverybodydoes · 20/03/2026 06:52

You’ve clearly decided you’re going to call in sick OP, what was the point in starting this thread?

Unless you are a brain surgeon, pilot or some other profession that requires sharp reaction times and skill, YABU and you know it.
If you need to drive to work and feel too tired, get a taxi.

OhFuckyNell · 20/03/2026 06:51

All this faffing just have a red bull and get on with it 😂

Ashleigh1969 · 20/03/2026 06:51

Don’t go in, just call in sick.

MayaPinion · 20/03/2026 06:50

Loads of people have poor/no sleep (thank you, menopause). Hot shower, cup of coffee, and a couple of paracetamol, and you’ll be right as rain.

Alovelycoffee · 20/03/2026 06:50

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Alovelycoffee · 20/03/2026 06:49

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TaraPup · 20/03/2026 06:49

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Why is this relevant though? I'd imagine her child is either staying with her or going to their usual Friday childcare. Baffled why this matters to you.

handsdownthebest · 20/03/2026 06:48

Well I also had a crap night sleep but will be going in to do my shift.
Sitting here with a very strong coffee and will go and get ready for work in a minute. Parents across the world have to work on no or bad sleep.

DontJumpInTheFountain · 20/03/2026 06:48

If you're the only adult in the house and your sickness record is otherwise good then I suspect it will be viewed more favourably than if there was someone else who could have helped. I would expect your sleep to be prioritised. But either way I'm not sure it's reasonable to want to miss half of your working week due to lack of sleep during one night.

Hopefulsalmon · 20/03/2026 06:48

No, you're not sick. Breakfast, hot shower, strong coffee and go in.

RichardMarxisinnocent · 20/03/2026 06:47

superchick · 20/03/2026 06:07

I can't speak for your employers but that's not standard practice

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If you're off Monday and Friday that counts as 4 days for the purposes of knowing if yo need a fit note. You can self certify for 7 calendar days of sickness (including Saturday and Sunday), after that you need a fit note.

Original poster
Catermellor · 20/03/2026 06:45

If I didn’t have young children I’d agree I’m not working tomorrow. As it is, I am.

OP posts:
Alovelycoffee · 20/03/2026 06:45

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hellobaby24 · 20/03/2026 06:44

i would definitely just get on with it. One bad night isn’t enough to ring in sick in my opinion.
get up have done food and some coffee drink plenty of water and you’ll be fine.

I would think it was a pretty lame excuse if I was your manager to be honest lots of people have bad nights sometimes

Original poster
Catermellor · 20/03/2026 06:44

shuffleofftobuffalo · 20/03/2026 06:39

What is your job? Does being sleep deprived cause a safety issue?

If everyone called in sick every time they were sleep deprived because of parenting hardly any working parents would be at work.

I do know that, I’ve been a parent for a while now.

But the thing is, if I go in and do a shit job (which i will) then I’m just going to end up in hot water.

OP posts: