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Original poster

Have you ever called in sick for lack of sleep?

106 replies

MinnieMountain · 26/05/2022 05:44

I’m seriously considering it. I went to bed at my usual time of 10pm but was still awake at 12:30 and woke up at 4:30.

OP posts:
Overthebow · 26/05/2022 07:23

No 4 hours sleep is not a reason to call in sick. Have a shower and breakfast to wake you up, some caffeine and get on with your day.

Kiopa · 26/05/2022 07:24

I haven't, but I have called in to say I had a rough night being unwell and need to start a little late so I can get some sleep. Then slept for a couple more hours and worked say 11-7 instead of 9-5. If you don't think you could say that, then you could go get your notes, wfh and then have a nap over lunch.

Someonekillputin · 26/05/2022 07:24

Working mums of young children don't?....Hmm

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Sleep
BlueTitSmilingAtMe · 26/05/2022 07:24

Peri insomnia isn't a "one off". OP if you feel bad enough that you're considering it then do it. As a PP said give menopause symptoms as the reason. It can be brutal.

Just make the call and go back to bed.

Presumably you're close to 50? Worked for around 25 years? So you know what "unable to work" feels like and if that's you today then there's your answer.

Woolandwonder · 26/05/2022 07:26

I have but I have chronic insomnia, so I've had days off when I've had multiple days of a couple of hours sleep. One night of 4 hours you'll be fine I'm sure, I'd go in have some coffee and breakfast and leave early if you feeling awful.

BadAtMaths2 · 26/05/2022 07:26

Yes. Especially In peri menopause as it tends to be lots of lost sleep adding up. Or I’d say I’m coming in late. Have staff who have been upfront about same thing,

but we are in a job where you have to get a thing done rather than work set hours. So can be flexible. It works.

BadAtMaths2 · 26/05/2022 07:26

Also are you on hrt?

Cornettoninja · 26/05/2022 07:27

I agree that four hours sleep doesn’t equate a day off work, unless you’re in a job that requires you drive or perform medical procedures and you feel particularly ropey.

it’ll depend on your workplace but is asking for half day annual leave an option?

Also, I have found that if you want to avoid getting into a cycle of insomnia, sleeping through the following day is one of the worst ways to tackle it.

Original poster
MinnieMountain · 26/05/2022 07:28

I’m 43. Early peri due to cancer treatment.
HR is aware of my peri-menopause and my TL knows about my sleep issues but I’ve only had days this bad at weekends before.

OP posts:
manysummersago · 26/05/2022 07:29

Yes, last week although it was a culmination of no sleep for a year and a half! I was just so wiped out I rang in sick.

Original poster
MinnieMountain · 26/05/2022 07:29

Am not allowed to take HRT.
Wouldn’t dream of napping even if I could.

OP posts:
Lalupita · 26/05/2022 07:29

Yes but only when I had less than 2 hours sleep. Sometimes no sleep at all. I've gone into work plenty of times on 4 hours sleep. I tell myself thats the minimum needed to function, but understand everyone's different and people might need more

TheClitterati · 26/05/2022 07:30

Of course you can take a day off sick if you're not feeling up to it.

Work to live, don't live to work.

QueenofLouisiana · 26/05/2022 07:30

If you are an airline pilot or surgeon then maybe it would be reasonable. I think working in an office, you could probably cope.

Spidey66 · 26/05/2022 07:31

No, I've gone in on no sleep. Sometimes I cycle, other times I get the train. If id slept badly I'd get the train in case my tiredness caused an accident.

The exception would be if I'd not slept for a medical reason. If I've got a bad cold (rare) I often spend my night coughing my guts up. Or if I've got a stomach bug.

loafandleaf · 26/05/2022 07:32

Take it off, have yourself a day to catch up, definitely don't feel guilty about it.
It's your personal sick day, and Ben if you aren't technically "sick" you can use them how you see fit

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 26/05/2022 07:35

No even when my friend's husband beat her up and I went to her house for the night and didn't sleep at all. My boss knew as well as she was a colleague sp I could've

catbirddogchild · 26/05/2022 07:35

No! and I did many years of nights with maybe an hour's sleep only between them at times. Caffeine, sugar and adrenaline got me through. Sorry I have zero respect for people who do know.

NippyWoowoo · 26/05/2022 07:36

I regularly get 3 1/2 to 4 hours sleep 😬 but everyone is different and it depends on your job

onelittlefrog · 26/05/2022 07:37

It doesn't matter how many hours other people think you should be able to function on. There's a lot of judgement on here about the whole four hours thing. Different people are different.

Just think about how you feel and whether you can function at work. If you can't, you should take the day off. It doesn't matter the reason.

NippyWoowoo · 26/05/2022 07:37

Also to add, I think it's better to have had little sleep but have been resting, than to have had it due to constant moving around etc.

I think you'll manage for one day, I find that fatigue doesn't kick in until it's happened at least for another night in a row.

Good luck!

EcafTnuc · 26/05/2022 07:39

Yes but I suffer from insomnia and it would be after several nights of no / very little sleep. A solid 4 hours is still a good chunk of sleep. A shower and a solid breakfast will help. I’d avoid sugar and caffeine as they just cause crashes.

dumdumduuuummmmm · 26/05/2022 07:39

Depends what the job is. Desk based and not a risk of financial catastrophe due to transposing digits etc then yes. Go to work. Airline pilot or air traffic control? Maybe not

onelittlefrog · 26/05/2022 07:40

loafandleaf · 26/05/2022 07:32

Take it off, have yourself a day to catch up, definitely don't feel guilty about it.
It's your personal sick day, and Ben if you aren't technically "sick" you can use them how you see fit

I strongly disagree with this! Sick days aren't allocated to use 'as you see fit'. You use them if and when you need them because you can't work for whatever reason.

It's not that you are allocated X number a year that you get to use even if you're not sick.

But if you are genuinely too tired to work and can't function, you should take the day off.

AliceMcK · 26/05/2022 07:42

Yes, but it fully depends on your job. My calling in sick didn’t effect anyone else’s work load, I was also able to log in remotely if needed.

if you have a job that requires you to be fully alert (operating machinery etc..) I would have no problem calling in sick for safety reasons.

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